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Member Symposium

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

Mating Disruption for Control of Insect Pests

Mating disruption of pink bollworm of cotton in India

Sunday, November 10, 2024
9:05 AM – 9:25 AM MST
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 127 C, PCC
Oral Presentation
India's cotton industry, a cornerstone of its agricultural economy, is facing a severe crisis due to the resurgence of the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella). As a result, cotton yields have drastically declined, leading to widespread economic distress among farmers, many of whom own small landholdings. The non-availability of conventional control options have exacerbated the problem for these smallholders.

In response to this crisis, CREMIT PBW was developed by ATGC Biotech, an innovative pheromone-based controlled release formulation specifically designed for small farm holdings. This technology leverages a joint research program between ATGC, JNCASR and ICAR NBAIR in developing high BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) materials and gellators to ensure a sustained pheromone release over five months, offering an efficient, long-term pest management solution. Unlike global mating disruption technologies that require large contiguous farm areas, CREMIT PBW is tailored to the fragmented agricultural landscape of India, ensuring broader applicability and effectiveness among the numerous smallholder farmers.

The development of CREMIT PBW was achieved through collaboration with DBT-BIRAC, JNCASR, ICAR NBAIR, SAUs and CICR. This collective effort of DBT BIRAC supported project to ATGC has ensured rigorous testing and validation of the technology by prominent agricultural institutions have confirmed the high efficacy of CREMIT PBW in managing pink bollworm population. These trials have demonstrated a potential reduction in crop losses by up to 80%, showcasing the product's significant impact on yield and farmer income. This innovation promotes sustainable agriculture by minimizing reliance on chemical pesticides, thus enhancing ecological health and aligning with global sustainability goals.