Vestaron announces availability of SPEAR-T bioinsecticide for greenhouse applications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Vestaron Corporation, a company dedicated to improving the safety, efficacy and sustainability of crop protection through migration from chemical pesticides to biologic peptides, announces today the full launch and availability of its SPEAR-T bioinsecticide, following final EPA approval this month of its manufacturing process for a liquid formulation, according to a press release.

SPEAR-T is an unprecedented insect control solution, providing the efficacy of a synthetic with the safety and toxicity profile of a biologic, according to the release. It has a zero-day pre-harvest interval and is designed to be non-toxic to mammals, birds, fish, honeybees and other beneficial insects. It can also be used with regular fogging or spraying equipment.

Initial target pests are thrips, whiteflies and spider mites. SPEAR-T is one of very few pesticides — and the only biologic — that can control spider mites as well as insect pests, according to the release. The company also has a development program underway for aphids and spotted wing drosophila.

“The last key step to full commercialization was the EPA approval of our manufacturing process,” said Anna Rath, Vestaron’s new chief executive officer. “We are excited to advance SPEAR-T to full commercial status.”

Isagro USA has been granted distribution rights in the U.S. for greenhouse vegetable applications. Additional distribution rights for the greenhouse market will be announced soon. Isagro USA will apply its distribution and sales expertise to sell SPEAR-T to address the needs of the greenhouse grower.

According to John Paul Du Pre, executive chairman of Isagro USA, “Growers have shown great interest in SPEAR-T, and we are pleased to be filling the distribution pipeline with this highly desired bioinsecticide, which fits the profile of the entire Isagro USA biosolutions portfolio of crop protection and nutrient products.”

Vestaron’s Rath added that another product from this peptide family of products is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2019, designed for producers of fruits, vegetables and other high-value field crops to control Lepidopteran pests.