Slide1 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Promotion of a Biological Rodenticide
to the Private Sector
Commercialisation of the
rodent-pathogenic parasite
Sarcocystis singaporensis
Slide2 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Overview
How an idea was born
The research phase
Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
The real world: field tests
Local partners in the private sector
The future
Slide3 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 How an idea was born
Discovery of Sarcocystis singaporensis
Two-host life cycle of sarcosporidian parasites
discovered 1972
Zaman and Colley isolate S. singaporensis from a
reticulated python (Python reticulatus) at a butcher‘s
shop in Singapore in 1975
Zaman recognizes potential as a biological control agent
of rats during studies on host specificity
Slide4 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 How an idea was born
Natural distribution of Sarcocystis singaporensis
Slide5 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 How an idea was born
The life cycle
Slide6 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The research phase
Since 1993: Biological-Control-of-Rodents-Project of
Dep. Agriculture, Thailand, and GTZ Studies on parasite biology at Dep. Parasitology,
Hohenheim University
Since 1980 Cooperation of GTZ with Dep. Parasitology of
Hohenheim University and Dep. Of Agriculture, Thailand
Research on host specificity, cell culture, pathogenicity
and formulation
Slide7 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The research phase
Host specificity About 30 snake species tested as potential
definitive hosts
(North and South America, Europe, Africa, Madagascar, Asia,
SE Asia and Australia)
More than 30 mammals (incl. humans), and
additionally amphibians, reptiles, and birds tested
as potential intermediate hosts
Slide8 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The research phase
Cell culture Growth of sexual stages in vitro failes
Growth of asexual stages in rat endothelial cells possible
Slide9 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A first step towards commercialisation Bayer sees opportunity to expand its rodent control portfolio
Biol. Rodent Control Project in need of a suitable ground bait and
formulation technique
Agreements on commercial use of a potential product, and on
intellectual property rights and patents
Slide10 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
Potential for worldwide application of biological rodent control Cosmopolitan
Rattus norvegicus
Rattus rattus
SE Asia
Rattus argentiventer
Bandicota spp.
Slide11 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A suitable ground bait Bait material (1 g) highly
attractive for rats is
inoculated with
a parasite suspension
Slide12 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Cooperation with Bayer Corp.
A suitable parasite formulation Oil in bait decreases
parasite viability
Development of a
parasite/gel formulation
Slide13 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The real world: field tests
Field tests prove that S. singaporensis is a potent rodent control agent 1991: First successful field application performed
in Egypt (Jakel et al. 1996, J Parasitol 82:280)
1996 – 1999: Field tests with various rodent
species of Thailand (Jakel et al. 1999, Int J Parasitol 29:1321)
Slide14 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The real world: field tests
2000: Large-scale field test in Lopburi (1) 60 ha ricefield-plots (R. argentiventer, B. indica)
Application from February to May during growing season
Damage assessment after treatment showed 0.4% damage
in parasite-treated plot, 1.2% in conventionally treated plot, and
5.5% in untreated plot
Farmers impressed by the ability of the parasite to kill rodents, but
criticised delayed action of the rodenticide
No harmful effects to raptors, dogs, cats, chicken during and after
the field test
Slide15 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The real world: field tests
Large-scale field test
in Lopburi (2) Benefit/cost ratio of treatment:
at 5% damage level = 3:1
based on a price for the biol.
rodenticide at 2-3 US$ / ha
Slide16 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Local partners in the private sector
Large-scale parasite production on pilot farm
Cooperation with Golden Crocodile Agriculture Co. Ltd. Parasite production
capacity of 80 – 100
snakes:
Suitable for 20,000 ha
rodent control area
Slide17 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Local partners in the private sector
Since 2001: Cooperation with Uniseeds Co. Ltd. Parasite mass production and introduction of biological rodent control on the market in Thailand
January 2002: Registration of S. singaporensis in Thailand
Expansion of biol. Rodent control to other countries in SE Asia
Slide18 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 Cooperation with the private sector
Lessons learnt Small to medium-sized companies that focus on local and regional markets are promising partners for promotion of biopesticides. However, they often lack in-house research facilities.
International industry partners like Bayer possess a wealth of expertise in formulation technique. Regional or local markets are not profitable for big transnational companies.
Focussing on biopesticides as sole products might not be profitable. Those companies which have a core business in a different sector (e.g. agrifood), but use biopesticides for product improvement, show advantages.
Slide19 : Regional Symposium on Biopesticides
Bangkok, 16 – 18 October 2002 The future
New GTZ Project: January 2003
Commercialization of biopesticides in SE Asia to extend biological rodent control and other biopesticides to various countries in SE Asia
to cooperate with other regional institutions and organizations to establish a business and information network on biopesticides in SE Asia
to provide expertise for the private sector interested in biopesticides