Bumble bee assassins...... Just what we need

[SDM]

Anybody seen this......
http://beevt.com

Pesticides targeting specifically while the crop is in flower, does that sound like a good idea to anyone ?

[gavin]

Anybody seen this......
http://beevt.com

Pesticides targeting specifically while the crop is in flower, does that sound like a good idea to anyone ?

Yes, it does to me. If you follow the advertising video (how irritating that you can't skip through the patronising stuff!) you'll see that their biocontrol agent is a fungus antagonistic to pathogens. This is old technology being rebranded with glitzy videos and marketing babble.

At a very basic level it just ain't going to work if you use bumble bees to spread something that it toxic to them.

[SDM]

Didn't it mention being used for organic and inorganic pesticides ?

[SDM]

I'm sure they mentioned organic and inorganic pesticides as well. Plus the appointment of an ex Bayer vp as their new CEO isn't encouraging.

[gavin]

I'm sure they mentioned organic and inorganic pesticides as well. Plus the appointment of an ex Bayer vp as their new CEO isn't encouraging.

Damn. You made me listen to it again. Well, they talk of biocontrol and powders (CR7) ... a 'naturally occurring non-GM fungus occurring throughout the world'. They also talk of 'much less chemicals' but I don't know whether the remaining chemicals come from other management practices on farm or what.

Further searching names the fungus as Clonostachys rosea: http://www.theevolvingplanet.com/using-bees-help-protect-crops-disease-bee-vectoring-technology/

It seems to be being hailed as an organic treatment.

[SDM]

Apologies lol, it is somewhat belittling.
Perhaps they were looking for funding from primary schools.