- The new pheromone solutions will target Yellow Stem Borer and
Fall Armyworm
- These aggressive pests have spread rapidly within Asia’s major
rice and corn production regions
- The collaboration expands options for growers in India,
Indonesia and Thailand to farm more sustainably
Syngenta Biologicals and Provivi today announced a collaboration
to develop and commercialize new pheromone-based biological
solutions to effectively and more safely control detrimental pests
in corn and rice – crops that serve as a primary food source for
3.5 billion people globally.
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Syngenta Biologicals and Provivi® partner
on new pheromone solutions, targeting devastating pests in key
crops across Asia (Photo: Business Wire)
The collaboration brings together Provivi’s expertise in
pheromone-based crop protection solutions with Syngenta’s global
reach and development capabilities. The two new pheromone solutions
will help farmers manage the devastating pests, Yellow Stem Borer
(YSB) in India and Indonesia and Fall Armyworm (FAW) in
Thailand.
The YSB Eco-Dispenser for India and Indonesia, and the FAW
Eco-Granules for Thailand will be available to farmers starting in
2026. These innovative product formulations, made from
biodegradable materials, represent significant advancements such as
enhanced efficacy, longer duration, and improved environmental
sustainability for the benefit of farmers.
Pheromones are natural signaling compounds that effectively
control pests by interfering with their mating behaviors,
preventing pest reproduction. Because they are non-toxic and
species-specific, pheromones do not harm organisms that pose zero
threat, therefore helping preserve the diversity and abundance of
beneficial insects and pollinators. The benefits of using
pheromones in an integrated pest management program include their
highly specific target activity and a mode of action, preventing,
instead of eliminating, thereby supporting the preservation of
biodiversity and the flourishing of non-target species.
The YSB and FAW pests stand out as among the most destructive
insect pests in agriculture, threatening a wide variety of crops in
many countries and impacting farmers’ livelihoods as well as food
security. As the dominant pest of rice in Asia, YSB pests can
attack rice crops throughout different phases of the plant’s life,
resulting in crops with “dead hearts” and “white ears” – symptoms
of dried-up central shoots and chaffy, or unfilled grain, leading
to significantly lower yields.
The FAW – which is in fact a caterpillar and not a worm – is
notable for its destructive capacity and rapid spread. Since the
discovery of the FAW pest in Thailand in late 2018, farmers in the
country have seen yields fall as much as 40 per cent for corn, and
in some cases been forced to plough under entire fields. This has
severe implications for corn production in Thailand, where the crop
is vital for the country’s economy, supporting both domestic and
export markets.
Syngenta and Provivi have previously collaborated to bring the
pheromone-based technology NELVIUM® to Indonesia to control rice
stem borer insects. The expansion of the pheromone partnership with
Provivi is aligned with Syngenta’s sustainability priorities, which
includes accelerating crop productivity while reducing the impact
on the planet, through more sustainable technologies.
Jonathan Brown, Global Head of Biologicals and Seedcare at
Syngenta: “Farmers need solutions that effectively address pest
pressure while ensuring sustainability on their farms, particularly
as pest threats evolve with climate change. We’re proud to work
together with Provivi to deliver the next-generation in
pheromone-based biocontrols that target farmer key pest
challenges.”
Pedro Coelho, Chief Business Officer at Provivi®:
“Pheromone-based solutions are non-toxic and species-specific, and
safeguard biodiversity by preserving beneficial insects and
pollinators. We are excited to work again with Syngenta to broaden
the offer of pheromone-based solutions available to farmers in
Asia.”
About Syngenta Crop Protection AG
Syngenta Crop Protection AG is a leader in agricultural
innovation, bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions that
enable farmers to grow productively and sustainably. We offer a
leading portfolio of crop protection solutions for plant and soil
health, as well as digital solutions that transform the
decision-making capabilities of farmers. Our 18,300 employees serve
to advance agriculture in more than 90 countries around the world.
Syngenta Crop Protection AG is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland,
and is part of the Syngenta Group. Follow us on X (@Syngenta,
@SyngentaUS), and on LinkedIn.
About Provivi®
Provivi® is a science-based company that develops scalable and
safer insect control technologies targeting the most destructive
pests in agriculture worldwide. The company's Nobel prize winning
technologies enable a step change in the production of affordable
pheromone-based solutions that can be conveniently used by growers
for preventive pest control. Headquartered in Santa Monica,
California, the company also has operations in Mexico, Brazil,
Indonesia, and Europe. For more information, visit www.provivi.com
and follow us on X (@Provivitm, @ProviviMx), and on LinkedIn.
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forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed
assumptions or other factors.
©2024 Syngenta. Rosentalstrasse 67, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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