FIrst published on the Cleantech Investor website, March 2012.

Exosect, the intelligent pest management technology developer, recently secured an exclusive licence for a fungal isolate of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) from the UK’s Food, Environment and Research Agency (Fera). The license follows a five year research programme by the company, in partnership with Sylvan Bio, CABI and Fera, into alternative insecticides in stored grain. Exoset formed a long term collaborative agreement with Sylvan Bio last year.

According to Martin Brown, Exosect Managing Director:

“...the grain store industry is under immense pressure after the removal of a number of key insecticides and fumigants".

Brown anticipates that Exosect will commercialise the new technology in the near future. Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that grows naturally, can act as a parasite on various arthropod species.

Exosect secured funding to support its licensing strategy last year from its existing investor base, which includes WHEB Partners. The company's commercial strategy is based on its patented platform technology, Entostat electrostatic wax powder. Exosect was spun out of Southampton University over ten years ago. Its core focus then was the development of pheromone products in agriculture, but it has subsequently discovered wider potential for Entostat powder as a targeted delivery platform across a range of sectors.

Exosect has a number of commercial collaborative projects in the pipeline and has already successfully divested a bee health product for the control of Varroa mite on honey bees, to Bayer CropScience in November 2010.

Exosect investor, WHEB Partners, will present at the Cleantech Fund Manager Platform on 15 March 2012.