Joanne George of DowAgroSciences explains the importance of innovation when it comes to pest management solutions.
Discovery is a basic human endeavour. From the beginning of time, people have posed answers and sought solutions to the world around them. But not everyone has the type of enquiring mind to take small, random observations and study the mechanics of how it works and what application it may have. Fewer still have the resources to make that application available to the world.
There are few companies that have the capacity for this type of research, and this list is rapidly changing as industry consolidation continues. These companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on searching for new molecules and bringing them to market.
Some may argue that we have advanced so far and we have so many alternatives to every possible problem, that the era of discovery is behind us. But this is not the case; it is more imperative than ever for discovery to continue, to and solutions and provide answers.
As an industry we must continue to provide new solutions to old and emerging issues and provide the best advice possible. Reliance on old technology only, often leads to new problems. For example, the use of liquid chemical treatments for termite management has been the established practice for decades. It is, however, fraught with issues. Trenches need to be dug around the perimeter. This poses logistical issues, irrespective of whether it’s a new build or an established home.
Liquid treatments rely on the invading termites passing through the barrier of liquid termiticide that was placed in the soil. However, there is no way of knowing if there are gaps or holes within that barrier allowing termites to travel through unaffected. And for those termites that are affected, they will die in situ and result in the colony building new galleries to try to attack the structure.
It’s also important to remember that over time the barrier will break down, rendering it mostly ineffective. Liquid chemical treatments do not result in colony elimination and any breach in the liquid placement (by changes to the house footprint, gardening, dogs, tree roots, etc) allows access.
Finally, there are questions related to chemical exposure to people and the environment.
Sentricon AlwaysActive was the product of ten years of researching constituents and techniques to find an effective, active and durable termite management system that was also environmentally sound, safe to workers, users, their pets and could be used in every possible scenario.
Launched in Australia in 2015, it has seen rapid adoption and successes in buildings across the country, and specifically requested in sensitive areas such as heritage buildings, wildlife areas and waterways, where chemicals may pose a risk and/or physical barriers are just not possible.
Sentricon AlwaysActive is a breakthrough in termite management systems, and offers benefits above and beyond the competition. That said, Corteva Agriscience continues to work on new alternatives. We are researching new active ingredients, techniques and systems for the termite market and other urban pest solutions. There are some truly exciting and innovative technologies on the horizon.
Supporting companies and their brands – such as Corteva Agriscience – that are actively investing in the eld of discovery, ensures that the capacity for research – the inquisitive mind backed by global resources – is still available for generations to come.
Joanne George, Pest Management Business Manager, DowAgroSciences