Bionat^TM

Microbial-based bioinsecticide
technology for insect control

Background

Technology Overview

How Technology Works

Background

Bionema develops advanced technologies using naturally occurring microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, known as entomopathogens, to combat insect pests in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and turf management. We create sustainable biocontrol solutions that reduce the need for synthetic pesticides while being cost-effective and globally scalable.

Our formulations are designed for soil, seed, and foliar application. They are easy to use and distribute, applied using conventional equipment, and provide good efficacy across various insect species. These technologies target specific insect pests and have co-evolved with insects for billions of years, so they have highly sophisticated resistance-breaking mechanisms. Entomopathogens encourage biodiversity, increase yield, and promote long-term ecological balance.
Fungal biocontrol agents represent a groundbreaking technology that uses safe, naturally selected fungal strains to control insects. The controlled release enhances the adhesion of the infection agents to plant leaves, increasing the effectiveness of these fungi and bacterial species. We deliver precise, environmentally friendly insect management solutions compatible with sustainable, regenerative, and organic farming practices.

Technology Overview

Fungal biocontrol is an effective method that utilises insect-killing fungi to control insect pests.
Our fungal and bacterial-based technologies use naturally occurring insect—and disease-killing entomopathogens to control pests in the agriculture, horticulture, sports turf, and forestry sectors. These fungi are specifically selected for their ability to target harmful pests without affecting beneficial insects or the broader ecosystem. By infecting pests such as soft-bodied insects, weevils, and caterpillars, the fungi penetrate the insect’s exoskeleton, utilising them as a food source and even changing the insect’s natural behaviour, leading to their eventual death. This natural, non-toxic process provides a highly effective, sustainable alternative to synthetic insecticides, ensuring pest control with no harmful residues. Bionema’s fungal and bacterial biocontrol solutions are adaptable to conventional and organic farming systems. They align with integrated pest management (IPM) practices, supporting long-term protection and reducing the reliance on synthetic pesticides. Our ongoing research continues to enhance the effectiveness and versatility of these technologies, making them suitable for various climates and environments globally.

Fungal-based technology for insect control:

How Technology Works

For economically challenging insects to be infected by conidia (the active ingredient), the fungal spores must have adequate adhesion, moisture and nutrition to infect the target host, which is an industry-wide problem. Bionema is developing unique methods to solve these challenges, significantly improving fungal infection and efficacy. These advanced methods dramatically aid in the adhesion of the fungal spores to the insect cuticle or plant surface, thereby increasing the efficiency of its pathogenic properties.

The fungal or bacterial spores can be applied directly to the soil or via foliar spray. In other words, insect control is not dependent on ingestion. Upon attaching itself to the insect cuticle, the product penetrates the exoskeleton and kills the insects without entering the wider environment. The most innovative aspect of this product is that it is entirely safe for the environment while ensuring control of a wide variety of pests, offering excellent efficacy.

Our technology has already shown positive results against economically essential pest species, such as thrips, aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars, the large pine weevil, vine weevil, leatherjackets, wireworms, and many more. It also provides effective control against insects (midges, ticks, mosquitoes) that transmit disease to humans and animals. These non-toxic products are designed to apply to insects directly, ensuring they are perfectly safe for humans and animals. They provide efficient insect control throughout the season and can be easily adapted for conventional and organic markets.

These products are based on a non-toxic biological material often discovered within naturally occurring organisms. The technology can be considered an intelligent pest control method suitable for various agriculture, horticulture, amenity/sports turf, and forestry applications. Our technology offers competent and inexpensive pest control solutions for different insect species.