success and challenges involved in developing
TRANSCRIPT
In their review on biopesticides in Canada, Bailey et al. (2010) reported that, from 1972 to 2008, 46 biopesticides were registered in Canada, including 20 bioinsecticides, 16 biofun-gicides / bactericides, 8 bioherbicides and 2 wood preservatives. They stated that several factors may explain this dynamic situation, given the relatively small size of the Canadian market (i.e. 33 million inhabitants). One of the major drivers has been governmental poli-
cies, legislation and funding of research programs. As scientists employed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, we benefited from a Departmental funding program called Matching Investment Initiative (MII) from 1996 to 2008. Thanks to this program, we co-developed, in partnership with three small companies, three sets of biopesticides based on three different active ingredients. We hereafter treat them as case studies.
The codling moth (Cydia pomonella L. Tortricidae) is a serious pest of pome fruit worldwide (Fig. 1). Cydia pomonella Granu-lovirus (CpGV) was originally isolated and described by Tanada from specimens collected in Mexico (Lacey et al. 2008) (Fig. 2). Owing to a large demand, its high virulence and its high selectivity, and because the codling moth can be mass-reared to produce the virus in vivo, a number of CpGV has been regis-tered in the USA and Europe in the 70’s and the 80’s. A granu-losis-based bioinsecticide aimed at codling moth manage-ment was co-developed by Biotepp Inc. and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Charles Vincent) from 1997 to 2001 thanks to financing by the Matching In-vestment Initiative (MII) program of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Strains of CpGV were collected in southern Quebec orchards. They were isolated, screened and bioassayed on codling moth larvae. In 2001, VirosoftCP4® became the first viral insecticide to be registered for agricultural use in Canada. In 2001, it was registered in the USA, which is currently its main market. It is formulated in Cap-Chat (QC, Canada), and con-sists of an aqueous suspension of 0.07% active ingredient (4 x 1013 occlusion bodies per liter) (Biotepp 2011). The story of its development was published by Vincent et al. (2007) and, to inform the general public, articles were published in agri-cultural magazines by Provost (2008a,b). In Canada, this case sent the message that, thanks to partnership with Government-al laboratories, small companies can successfully develop viral biopesticides with minimal investment in laboratory facilities.
Requiem®, a Chenopodium-based botanical aimed at managing sof-bodied arthropods (phytophagous mites, thrips, etc.), was co-developed by the canadian company Codena Inc. and Agri-culture and Agri-Food Canada / Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Nou-bar J. Bostanian- acarologist, André Bélanger- chemist, Charles Vincent- entomologist). This was achieved from 1993 to 2008 through a series of projects mainly co-financed by the MII pro-gram of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Originally, four biope-sticides and four insects were targeted. After preliminary studies, the team focused on an essential oil extracted from Chenopo-dium ambrosioides var. ambrosioides, a North American herb-aceous plant. The extracts exerted acaricidal effects towards the twospotted spider mite (Fig. 3) (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi (Koch)) (Acari: Tetranychidae) (Chiasson et al. 2004a).
Some ovicidal activity was also determimed in both spe-cies. At the highest concentrations tested (i.e. 2% UDA-245 (25%EC, v/v)), the extracts were phytotoxic to tomato, lettuce, rose and strawberry. The essential oil extracted from Chen-opodium ambrosioides exerted insecticidal effect on green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphid-idae), western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergan-de) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and greenhouse whitefly, Trial-eurodes vaporariorium (Westwood) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) (Chiasson et al. 2004b). The extract had little effects on the whitefly parasitoid Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). The story of the development of Requiem® was published by Chiasson et al. (2008). In 2008, Codena Inc. was bought by the California-based company Agraquest, that regis-tered the botanical in the USA in 2008 (Agraquest 2011). As of 2011, Canada is awaiting for the registration of Requiem®.
BioprotecTM is a series of seven bio-insecticides co-developed by AEF Global and JCC (microbiologist) through a series of MII from 1998 to 2004. BioprotecTM technical, is a Bacillus thuringiensis – based technical powder that served as the active ingredient in the following formulations: BioprotecTM, an aqueous formu-lation developed for use against lepidopteran pests in forestry (e.g. Choristoneura fumiferana), BioprotecTM HP, a high potency aqueous formulation, and BioprotecTM XHP, an extra high potency aqueous formulation; BioprotecTM ECO, an aqueous formulation for domestic use; and BioprotecTM CAF, an aqueous formulation for use against lepidopteran pests in agriculture (e.g. Pieris rapae, Plutella xylostella); and BioprotecTM 3P, a dustless dry flowable granules developed with increased persistence under UV light and rain, and increased potency and protection for use in agriculture. These products were registered in Canada from 2001 to 2004. The story of the development of these products was published by Côté (2007). AEF Global is now filing for registration in USA.
Figure 3. Twospotted spider mites
ABSTRACT
Virosoft CP4® Requiem® BioprotecTM
As often observed for projects on botanicals or biological control agents, the development and registration of biopesticides may take a decade or more. From a scientist perspec-tive, several issues are at stake. First, a scientist is assessed by his publication record; he may be penalized by getting involved in projects where the protection of trade secrets
is the norm. Second, when projects are financed for no more than three years, several rounds of negociations are necessary. These are time consuming. Third, a scientist would be more enclined in accepting the additional risks inherent in co-developing biopesticides should a compensatory program be tied to the commercial success of the biopesticides.
CONCLUSIONS
Figure 2. Codling moth damage on apples
Figure 1. Codling moth Granulovirus (dark field) / Codlling moth
© Olaf Leillinger
Figure 4. Bacillus thuringiensis / Lepidopterans on cabbage
REFERENCES• Agraquest 2011. http://www.agraquest.com/agrochemical/products/insecticides-requiem.php
(accessed August 2011)• Bailey , K.L., S.M. Boyetchko, T. Längle 2010. Social and economic drivers shaping the future of biological control:
A Canadian perspective on the factors affecting the development and use of microbial biopesticides. Biological Control 52: 221–229.
• Biotepp 2011. http://www.biotepp.com/en/products/viroCP4/index.html (accessed August 2011)• Chiasson, H., N. J. Bostanian, C. Vincent 2004a. Acaricidal properties of a Chenopodium-based botanical.
J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 1373-1377.• Chiasson, H., C. Vincent, N. J. Bostanian 2004b. Insecticidal properties of Chenopodium-based botanical.
J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 1378-1383.• Chiasson, H., U. Delisle, N. J. Bostanian, C. Vincent 2008. Recherche, développement et commercialisation
de FACINMD, un biopesticide d’origine végétale. Étude d’un cas de réussite en Amérique du Nord. pp. 451-463 in Regnault-Roger, C., B. J. R. Philogène, C. Vincent (Eds.) Biopesticides d’origine végétale. Lavoisier Tech & Doc, 2ième éd., Paris, 546 p.
• Côté, J.-C. 2007. Bacillus thuringiensis – How early discoveries about B. thuringiensis prejudiced subsequent research and use. In Biological Control: a Global Perspective (eds. C. Vincent, M.S. Goettel and G. Lazarovits), CABI Publishing U.K. p. 169-180.
• Lacey, L. A., D. Thomson, C. Vincent, S. P. Arthurs. 2008. Codling Moth Granulovirus: a comprehensive review. Biocon. Sci. Technol. 18 :639-663.
• Provost, C., J. Valéro, C. Vincent, H. Rasamimanana 2008a. Viral insecticide registered for codling moth control in Canada. Fruit and Vegetable Magazine 64(5): 24-25. (May/June 2008).
• Provost, C., J. Valéro, C. Vincent, H. Rasamimanana 2008b. Virosoft CP4: premier virus homologué au Canada pour usage en agriculture. Antennae (Société d’Entomologie du Québec) 15(2): 3-6.
• Vincent, C., M. Andermatt, J. Valéro 2007. Madex and Virosoft CP4, Viral Biopesticides for Codling Moth Control. pp. 336-343 in Vincent, C., M. Goettel, G. Lazarovits 2007 (eds.). Biological Control: a global perspective. Case Histories from around the world. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, U.K., 440 p.
Success and challenges involved in developing biopesticides with small companies: three case studies from Canada
OECD Workshop on Integrated Pest Management, Berlin, Germany, 16-19 October 2011A poster aimed at addressing Issues #1 (Technology & information) and #2: Economics & Market Access:Economic incentives (e.g. subsidies, grants, partnership programmes)
Presenters: Cezarina Kora and Pat Curry (Canada)
CASE
CASE
CASE
Authors: Charles VINCENT, Noubar J. BOSTANIAN and Jean-Charles COTÉHorticulture Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 430 Gouin Blvd., Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, Canada J3B 3E6