The days of chemical pesticides are numbered, a new biological means to control pests (bio control) is to be launched at this year’s Bloom Flower Show in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland. The product is called “SuperNemos” and will soon be available to horticulturalists both for commercial and home use (www.nemo.ie).
So what exactly are “SuperNemos”? It is a biological control product containing microscopic beneficial nematodes (found in healthy soil), which are specially formulated to aggressively pursue several or different groups of insect pests. When applied in specific soil, SuperNemos will attack its target insect pest species.
Dr Abdul Al-Amidi the inventor of “SuperNemos” from Nemos Horticultural Limited spoke to The Epoch Times about this novel bio control product.
“I make them work harder by encouraging competition between the different species” said Dr Al-Amidi. By mixing a selection of local nematodes in such a way so as to encourage competition Dr Al-Amidi makes the nematods compete for their food supply. “It’s a competition between the different species of nematode for the food source,” this approach therefore selects a more efficient nematode hence the “SuperNemos” emerges from this patented process. A species that doesn’t eliminate a particular insect will itself be eliminated, the nematodes that target all insects win out over the others.
Another point that Dr Al-Amidi made was that the current products on the market which have insect specific nematodes are only 40 to 60 per cent effective. Dr Al-Amidi reckons that this is due to the lack of competition, “ You never get 80 to 90 per cent out of the current products available the market... where as when there is competition the per cent increases greatly,” said Dr Al-Amidi.
Fruit suppliers who have been testing the “SuperNemos” since 2007 have fully backed the product.
Phil Summers strawberry producer in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford has been using the “SuperNemos” for three years. On previous occasions, he has tried using other biological controls on his strawberry crops, but it was difficult to apply, and the results were always poor, with at best, only 40 per cent of the outdoor harvest undamaged by vine weevil. We were “plagued with the pests.” Mr Summers told The Epoch Times that using conventional treatments was only giving him a single year out of the strawberry plants before the vine weevils took over. Now, with the “SuperNemos” they were producing fruit for three years. Mr Summers said “The ”SuperNemos“ are in or around the same price as chemical alternatives, but they are doing a much better job. I highly recommend Nemos Horticultural Ltd for their on-site advice and wonderful invention.”
Paul and Orla Woods Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal winning horticulturists of Kilmurry Nursery in Gorey, County Wexford, have been using and monitoring the product since its first prototype in 2007. Mr Woods told The Epoch Times that the main reason for his adopting a biological control solution was he didn“t want to use chemicals to control the vine weevils anymore ”I wanted a safer alternative to using chemicals.“ Mr Woods said ”The SuperNemos have worked very well ... the staff are happier because they don“t have to handle any chemicals ... we grow a lot of plants that vine weevil love but no problems this year.”
Mr Woods admitted that bio controls were perhaps slightly more labour intensive to apply than similar chemical alternative but the results were worth the extra effort.
I asked Dr Al-Amidi if there were any drawbacks associated with the “SuperNemos” approach?
“The only drawback, if any, is that you have to know what it is you are targeting and apply the product according to instructions,” was the Doctor“s reply, for example you can”t apply in direct sunlight as UV light kills the nematodes, you also need to wet the area before applying the solution. Chemical pesticides also require specific application instructions, however with chemical products some are dangerous and incorrect application could cause problems. Incorrect application of “SuperNemos” will result in a drop in effectiveness, there are no by-products associated with them says Dr Al-Amidi.
“It”s an environmentally friendly product that is harmless to wildlife, earthworms, bumblebees, pets and children“it attacks only target insect pests,” continued Dr Al-Amidi.
The great advantage to a bio control solution according to Dr Al-Amidi is that “it can be adapted to any country”, you just have to use the local nematodes when preparing the “SuperNemos”, therefore no foreign species are introduced to the local environment. E~nema have patents pending in several countries at present. When the product takes hold in Ireland they plan on targeting UK and other EU markets before moving further a field.
“These products should be encouraged because they are environmentally friendly, they reduce the use of chemicals in Ireland, ultimately the aim is to reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture or in the gardens,” was the Doctors closing comment.
Stiofan Nutty a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said “Bio controls in general would be well regarded ... because they use nature to deal with nature ... it”s a more natural approach and therefore has to be welcomed.“ Mr Nutty was at pains to point out that Minister Sargent and the Department could not endorse any product as it was not permitted but work in this area had to be commended, ”Nematodes in general are very eco and environmentally friendly,” said Mr Nutty.
