Plants and Crops

Widespread insecticide use has led to increased resistance developed by pests leading to proliferation of major pests, increased crop losses, subsequent increased insecticide use and a greater risk to humans and ecosystems.  Therefore, there is a need to develop innovations such as exogenous crop protectants that are effective and environmentally friendly.

Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a BENtonite POLymer formulation that when loaded with dsRNA payloads is easily sprayed onto crop leaf surfaces.

Key features

• High specificity to targeted chewing pests including Earworm
• No known negative impacts on the environment or beneficial fauna
• Protects dsRNA payloads from environmental degradation.