Provivi, an emerging crop protection company using pheromones to protect crops from major damaging insects, has announced regulatory approval of Pherogen SPOFR in Kenya
The authorisation issued by Kenya’s Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) covers the control of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in corn.
The Fall Armyworm has established itself as a severely damaging pest to maise crops in Kenya. Current tools to control this pest are often costly and lagging efficacy while posing health risks to the applicators and farmers.
“For Provivi, farmers are the cornerstone of our organisation. We are grateful and excited to be able to offer farmers a preventive, sustainable and non-toxic solution against Fall Armyworm - improving their corn crops, business and livelihoods,” stated Andres Laignelet, global head, corn projects at Provivi.
Pherogen SPOFR is a pheromone-based dispenser, which will change the way farmers in Kenya manage the Fall Armyworm problem. One application at the beginning of the crop will provide season-long control by disrupting the pest’s mating and preventing damaging populations’ build-up.
“By adopting the Pherogen SPOFR solution, farmers in Kenya now have a tool enabling them to rethink the way to protect their crops from damaging insect pest populations. Being a natural compound with no risk of resistance, it offers an effective and safe foundation for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Fall Armyworm in corn,” Laignelet added.
“This registration marks the beginning of a new era of effective, affordable, and environmentally benign protection against Fall Armyworm for farmers not only in Kenya but several other countries across the world, where we are currently developing and registering the product,” said Juan Manuel Lombana, vice-president global business at Provivi.
