A spray made from naturally occurring crop microbes is being tested to protect oilseed rape from aphids and the yellow viruses they carry. This matters because aphids cause significant damage to UK and global crops, and conventional chemical insecticides are increasingly restricted due to environmental and health concerns. Existing alternatives often lack the targeted effectiveness needed for reliable pest control. BugBiome has identified specific microbes from crop surfaces that kill aphids, and this project will test whether that bioinsecticide works as well in open fields as it does in the lab. If successful, the research could give farmers a sustainable, targeted tool to protect oilseed rape—a crop used for cooking oil and animal feed—without relying on broad-spectrum chemicals. The project also aims to improve the spray’s formulation so it remains stable under real farming conditions and can be applied using standard equipment. Beyond this single crop, the approach could be adapted to other aphid-prone plants, reducing pesticide runoff and supporting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
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BugBiome has **harnessed crop-associated microbes** to develop an **innovative bioinsecticide** aimed at **combating aphids and the viruses they transmit**. This project will **leverage the first asset** from BugBiome's core platform, which integrates microbiology, entomology and engineering biology to discover safe and effective alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides. The project is in **collaboration** with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (**NIAB**), experts in **field trial design and implementation**. The primary objective of this project is to **validate the effectiveness** of BugBiome's first bioinsecticide against aphids, focusing on its application in **both controlled environments and field settings** with economically important British and global crops. Specifically, the project aims to evaluate **pest protection of oilseed rape crops from aphid infestations and yellow viruses**, thereby enhancing **crop productivity and sustainability.** BugBiome's approach is deeply rooted in sustainable principles. By **understanding natural microbial communities**, BugBiome has **discovered potent bioinsecticides** from crops against aphids. The project will involve rigorous testing of BugBiome's aphid bioinsecticide and **improvements to its formulation** ensuring the bioinsecticide is both **effective and adaptable** to varying agricultural conditions and standard farming practices for pesticide application in the South East and beyond. The anticipated outcomes of this project include: * **Validated Performance**: Demonstrating the bioinsecticide's effectiveness in protecting crops under both controlled and field-based production systems. * Product Development: **Advancing the formulation** of the bioinsecticide to improve field performance, cost of production and suitability for end users. * Viral Transmission Quantification: Assessing the **impact** of the bioinsecticide **on the transmission of viruses** by aphids between treated and control plants. BugBiome bioinsecticides represent a significant **advancement in agricultural productivity**. By harnessing the **power of microbes in a targeted and sustainable manner**, BugBiome aims to establish a **new standard in crop protection**. This approach aligns with the needs of modern agriculture while remaining committed to ecological balance and biodiversity conservation to provide farmers with an effective crop protection tool against aphids.
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