Commercially produced grass wax as a novel biocontrol system to combat potato blight

Blankney Estates produces naturally oil-soluble chlorophyll and water-soluble chlorophyllin, using exclusively Lincolnshire-grown, pesticide free grass and alfalfa. It is one of the world's largest suppliers of chlorophyll, which is used in a range of food, nutra- and pharmaceuticals applications. As part of its chlorophyll production process, the company produces a grass wax fraction and this project will investigate the use of this material as a novel biocontrol agent for late potato blight, which results in up to £50 million of annual losses for UK farmers.