New Dow Insecticide Accepted into EPA's 'Reduced Risk' Program

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Dow AgroSciences has reported that a new spinosyn insecticide compound under development has been accepted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for expedited review under the Agency's Reduced Risk Pesticide Program.

“The advancement of this new molecule represents Dow AgroSciences' continued commitment to bringing innovative chemistry solutions to market,” says Don Kelley, global product manager, insecticides, for Dow AgroSciences. The as-yet-unnamed molecule is a NAFTA submission involving simultaneous review by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In laboratory and field tests, Dow says the molecule has shown excellent broad-spectrum control of significant pests for the tree fruit, tree nut, vine and vegetable markets, including control of codling moth, oriental fruit moth, leafrollers, thrips, and leafminers.

In speaking with Lawn & Landscape, Kelly said the product will be registered in the agriculture market first, but that Dow is looking into other uses as well. “To date, we’ve spent most of our research efforts in the ag area, however we do and will have additional research planned in the future for the turf and ornamental market,” he says. “We have some trials ongoing this year to determine the product’s usefulness in that area.”

Acceptance for expedited review under the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative is an important milestone toward achieving registration in the U.S. Dow expects to gain register and launch of spinosyn-based products in late 2007 throughout North America.

“EPA’s Reduced Risk process involves a certain set of criteria and toxicology profiles that they look at on new molecules,” Kelley explains. “If the molecule meets the criteria, they’ll put it under the ‘reduced risk’ and expedite the registration process.”

Reduced risk pesticides will be ultimately safer for applicators and others living and working in the application area. Currently, spinosyn is being evaluated for positive environmental characteristics, and testing to date has found that it does not impact most key beneficial insects in tree fruit, tree nut, vine and vegetable crops. In addition, testing on target pests shows the compound to be effective at lower use rates compared to most currently available insecticides, and less persistent in the environment compared to older compounds.

"Our track record of developing insecticides with favorable environmental profiles is one of the best in the industry," explains Kelley. "This compound, which is derived from a naturally-occurring substance, will combine a new standard of performance with excellent environmental characteristics that will allow us to serve customers in new crop segments."