Bio-Gene sees breakthrough in environmentally-friendly pesticide production

Nature-derived insecticide company Bio-Gene Technology and its Indian contract manufacturer Rallis have announced successful production of pre-commercial quantities of the Flavocide product.

In a statement on Monday, Bio-Gene said it had appointed Rallis – part of the Tata Group conglomerate – based on its record of agri-chemical products made to stringent standards, as well as its capacity to scale up output of Flavocide.

The pilot-scale production phase has been successfully completed, with Rallis producing “several hundred kilograms of Flavocide from the pilot-scale batches, demonstrating high yield and consistent quality”, said Bio-Gene.

Flavocide is a “nature-identical product” based on Flavesone, a natural compound found in Australian eucalypt trees, and targets agricultural insect pests and mosquitoes.

“Reaching this important milestone significantly reduces the technical risk associated with the production of Flavocide in commercial quantities,” said Tim Grogan, Bio-Gene’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are now well positioned to supply larger quantities to our commercial partners in the future.”  

According to the company, the completion of this phase demonstrated robustness of their production method and allows it to progress with remaining  studies “to be included in the dossier of data to support its application for regulatory approval of  Flavocide for commercial use.”

According to a company profile published last year, Bio-Gene was established to commercialise Western Sydney University research on a molecule from the gympie messmate tree, which now forms part of the patented QCide product range. 

Its other product range is Flavocide, which was developed and patented in collaboration with CSIRO.

Both are designed to address the problem of insecticide resistance. 

Bio-Gene made the Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list, published by @AuManufacturing, this year.

Picture: credit CSIRO

Further reading

Bio-Gene’s insecticide proven to kill dangerous mosquitoes

Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers for 2024 announced

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed