Alicom Biological Control says it has developed a patented, highly effective delivery system for biochemicals used in combating mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, malaria, encephalitis, dengue and yellow fevers. The Ministry of the Environment approved registration of the product.
Alicom is part of the Yozmot-Granot Initiative Center, an incubator founded by members of some of the 42 kibbutzim belonging to the Granot Regional Cooperative Organization.
Yozmot-Granot managing director Abraham Afori said that the Hof Hacarmel Regional Council, the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority and the Hadera municipality tested the new product successfully, and that it is environmentally friendly, and non-toxic to humans and plants.
Alicom general manager Giora Ramot said the product was based on bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a non-toxic bacterium discovered 20 years ago, that affects mosquito larvae. Until recently, BTI was not considered economic for massive scale mosquito control programs because it dispersed within a few days and required frequent repeat applications. Alicom has developed a new granular formulation that enables sustained delivery of chemicals, effectively extending its efficacy to over 14 days.
Ramot added that there was also interest from the US in the new product, where the mosquito control market is an estimated $600 million, annually. The European market is an estimated $200 million, annually.
Granot group general manager Yitzhak Bader said that preparation for US Environmental Protection Agency approval was underway.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on 06 October 2002