PowerPointPrsentation

1
Promotion of a Biological Rodenticide to the
Private Sector
Commercialisation of the rodent-pathogenic
parasite Sarcocystis singaporensis
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
2
Overview

• How an idea was born
• The research phase
• Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
• The real world field tests
• Local partners in the private sector
• The future

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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How an idea was born

• Discovery of Sarcocystis singaporensis
• Two-host life cycle of sarcosporidian parasites
• discovered 1972
• Zaman and Colley isolate S. singaporensis from a
• reticulated python (Python reticulatus) at a
  butchers
• shop in Singapore in 1975
• Zaman recognizes potential as a biological
  control agent
• of rats during studies on host specificity

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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How an idea was born
Natural distribution of Sarcocystis singaporensis
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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How an idea was born
The life cycle
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The research phase
Since 1980

• Studies on parasite biology at Dep.
  Parasitology,
• Hohenheim University

Since 1993 Biological-Control-of-Rodents-Project
of Dep. Agriculture, Thailand, and GTZ

• Cooperation of GTZ with Dep. Parasitology of
• Hohenheim University and Dep. Of Agriculture,
  Thailand
• Research on host specificity, cell culture,
  pathogenicity
• and formulation

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The research phase
Host specificity

• About 30 snake species tested as potential
• definitive hosts
• (North and South America, Europe, Africa,
  Madagascar, Asia,
• SE Asia and Australia)
• More than 30 mammals (incl. humans), and
• additionally amphibians, reptiles, and birds
  tested
• as potential intermediate hosts

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The research phase
Cell culture

• Growth of sexual stages in vitro failes
• Growth of asexual stages in rat endothelial
  cells possible

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A first step towards commercialisation

• Bayer sees opportunity to expand its rodent
  control portfolio
• Biol. Rodent Control Project in need of a
  suitable ground bait and
• formulation technique
• Agreements on commercial use of a potential
  product, and on
• intellectual property rights and patents

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
Potential for worldwide application of biological
rodent control
Cosmopolitan Rattus norvegicus Rattus rattus SE
Asia Rattus argentiventer Bandicota spp.
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A suitable ground bait
Bait material (1 g) highly attractive for rats
is inoculated with a parasite suspension
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
12
Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A suitable parasite formulation
Oil in bait decreases parasite viability Developm
ent of a parasite/gel formulation
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The real world field tests
Field tests prove that S. singaporensis is a
potent rodent control agent

• 1991 First successful field application
  performed
• in Egypt (Jakel et al. 1996, J Parasitol
  82280)
• 1996 1999 Field tests with various rodent
• species of Thailand (Jakel et al. 1999, Int J
  Parasitol 291321)

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The real world field tests
2000 Large-scale field test in Lopburi (1)

• 60 ha ricefield-plots (R. argentiventer, B.
  indica)
• Application from February to May during growing
  season
• Damage assessment after treatment showed 0.4
  damage
• in parasite-treated plot, 1.2 in
  conventionally treated plot, and
• 5.5 in untreated plot
• Farmers impressed by the ability of the parasite
  to kill rodents, but
• criticised delayed action of the rodenticide
• No harmful effects to raptors, dogs, cats,
  chicken during and after
• the field test

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The real world field tests
Large-scale field test in Lopburi (2)

• Benefit/cost ratio of treatment
• at 5 damage level 31
• based on a price for the biol.
• rodenticide at 2-3 US / ha

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Local partners in the private sector
Large-scale parasite production on pilot
farm Cooperation with Golden Crocodile
Agriculture Co. Ltd.
Parasite production capacity of 80 100
snakes Suitable for 20,000 ha rodent control
area
Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Local partners in the private sector
Since 2001 Cooperation with Uniseeds Co. Ltd.

• Parasite mass production and introduction of
  biological rodent control on the market in
  Thailand
• January 2002 Registration of S. singaporensis
  in Thailand
• Expansion of biol. Rodent control to other
  countries in SE Asia

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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Cooperation with the private sector
Lessons learnt

• Small to medium-sized companies that focus on
  local and regional markets are promising
  partners for promotion of biopesticides.
  However, they often lack in-house research
  facilities.
• International industry partners like Bayer
  possess a wealth of expertise in formulation
  technique. Regional or local markets are not
  profitable for big transnational companies.
• Focussing on biopesticides as sole products
  might not be profitable. Those companies which
  have a core business in a different sector (e.g.
  agrifood), but use biopesticides for product
  improvement, show advantages.

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002
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The future
New GTZ Project January 2003 Commercialization
of biopesticides in SE Asia

• to extend biological rodent control and other
  biopesticides to various countries in SE Asia
• to cooperate with other regional institutions
  and organizations to establish a business and
  information network on biopesticides in SE Asia
• to provide expertise for the private sector
  interested in biopesticides

Regional Symposium on Biopesticides Bangkok, 16
18 October 2002