Exosect solution heralds first steps in pesticide reduction
The EU is increasingly putting pressure on the food production industry to integrate measures that minimise the presence of pesticide residues in stored product foods.
It is widely recognised that pesticide residues should not be present at levels that pose an unacceptable risk to humans. This has already led to legislative changes and mounting pressure to adapt current practice. In September 2008, a legislative framework was put in place to protect consumers and maximum residue levels of pesticide (MRL’s) were set for the food production sector.
Legislation is, however, not the only driver for change in this sector. Food manufacturers currently rely predominantly on pesticide use for the control of moth infestations. This process can require factory shutdown, with resulting production loss, as well as producing residue levels which have already become unacceptable in some EU countries.
The launch of a new solution is therefore being widely welcomed as a step towards pesticide reduction management and factory efficiency in UK food production.
Exosect, a leading provider of Intelligent Pest Management solutions, has developed an award winning, environmentally-friendly moth control system, Exosex SPTab.
The system offers an organic compliant, non-chemical solution which avoids the need for site closures or production disruption and ultimately, when used as part of an IPM program, offers retailers and consumers safe, high quality food with reduced pesticide residues.
Martin Brown, Managing Director at Exosect, explained: “Pesticides in food factories have traditionally taken the form of fumigation or spray processes. However, we believe that there will soon be consumer as well as regulatory pressure on retailers, suppliers and manufacturers to use residue free pest management solutions.
“Insightful manufacturers will not simply succumb to change but will lead in the challenge of pesticide reduction management. By focusing on a move towards zero residue, the industry could revolutionise the way in which it manages the protection of products into the future. Exosex SPTab represents a first step in intelligent and informed pesticide management.”
Exosex SPTab is a small tablet consisting of Exosect’s unique Entostat™ powder and uses pheromones as the method of pest control. It is formulated with minute quantities of the female sex pheromone common to all five of the major moth pests in food processing: Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia elutella, Ephestia kuehniella, Cadra figulilella and Cadra cautella.
Martin continued: “At Exosect we’ve combined the use of pheromones with our unique technology to provide a means of protection from moths that requires no spraying at all. Facilities can function as usual during treatment, it’s unobtrusive and effective and, most importantly, doesn’t adversely impact monitoring trap data collection at all. We’re delighted to be launching this month in the UK market and looking forward to taking the product to other EU markets in the Spring.”
The Exosex SPTab system works 24/7 by attracting male moths to the Entostat™ powder and female pheromone. As the male moths pick up pheromone loaded Entostat™ powder their receptors become overloaded and they are unable to locate females. A male carrying Entostat™ powder will form a mobile pheromone dispenser, producing ‘false’ pheromone trails, which attract additional males.
Contact between the males ensures that the Entostat™ powder and the confusion effect is automatically passed on. The result is a state of sexual confusion amongst the male moth population leading to effective mating disruption.
The tablet is placed inside a bespoke dispenser, located at 5 metre intervals throughout a manufacturing facility. A long-term solution, Exosex SPTab is easy to deploy, requires no special application equipment and can remain active for 2 months, at which time dispensers are easily refilled.
To ensure that optimum performance is achieved from the outset, Exosect and its distributors work together with approved Pest Control Operators to provide set up and training and technical support, as and when required.
“The SPTab product is unique in that it is derived from a natural sustainable plant source. Organically approved products are ever increasing their appeal and this combines with the extensive range of other product benefits to provide an unbeatable solution. We are already experiencing very high levels of interest in the new product,” added Martin.
“Fundamentally, our product helps manufacturers to drastically reduce or eliminate insecticide sprays. This reduces the down-time in production associated with fumigation and spray regimes and improves product quality by protecting the goods from residual pesticides.”
The fact that existing monitoring traps can still be located by the moths, enabling continuous collection of reliable and accurate data for pest control, hygiene management and data auditing processes, is proving to be a strong USP for Exosex SPTab.
The product was recently registered through the Health and Safety Executive and is being made available in the UK from January 2010. Exosect is also preparing a European rollout, with plans to launch the product initially in Germany, France, Holland and Italy in Spring 2010.
A privately funded company, Exosect Ltd was spun out of Southampton University in 2001 with a focused research and development function. Exosect’s Entostat™ powder was developed by Professor Howse at the University and is derived from a natural carnauba wax, which is sustainably harvested from the leaves of a specific palm tree.
Through micronisation, the Entostat™ powder develops an electrostatic charge, which is similarly developed by insects as they fly or walk. When placed in contact with insects, the powder adheres to them and can easily be passed on to other insects through direct contact.
Exosect is focused on the development of Intelligent Pest Management solutions. Its innovative and cost-effective products help growers, food manufacturers and processors to actively reduce their use of pesticides. These products are used globally in a wide range of sectors including crop protection (agriculture, horticulture and stored products), apiculture, amenity and public health. Exosex SPTab was a SOFHT (Society of Food Hygiene and Technology) award winner in 2008. Parent company Exosect was a recent category winner in the 2009 Guardian Global CleanTech 100 awards.
To find out more information about Exosect and Exosex SPTab, please visit http://www.exosect.com. The Exosex SPTab product is available in the UK from distributors including: Barretine, Paragon (RIWA) and SX Environmental (Essex Environmental Supplies Ltd.)
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For further information please contact: Louise Perfect or Caroline Searle at Trimedia, on behalf of Exosect. Tel: 02380 382970 or email: louise.perfect@trimediauk.com