Biotechnology for Anti-Weeds (BAW)

The project aims to develop a technology for an organic natural based pesticide for use in agriculture and horticulture plus the homes and gardens market. The basis of this research is replacing steps in a chemical synthesis that uses a toxic metal catalyst by employing biological processes using enzymes, and to scale this up to a route workable for industrial production. The starting material is a sustainable natural oil available in large quantities at an economic price grown in third world countries. The separation of the oil into the wanted starting component uses recyclable chemicals and the by product has immediate industrial uses. The end result would be a ‘green’ product produced in a ‘green’ and sustainable way. This has wide application helping to protect the European food chain whilst contributing to the desired EU target of reducing the use of synthetic pesticides. There would be a large potential export market which the Industrial partner is well experienced to develop.