Pro Farm Group unveils a novel bio-based insecticide and nematicide

Pro Farm Group has introduced RinoTec Technology, a novel bacterial-based insecticide and nematicide designed to combat a broad spectrum of destructive pests. Targeting both foliar and soil-dwelling insects, RinoTec provides an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical solutions. Pending final approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state regulatory bodies, the technology will be incorporated into products for crops such as corn, potatoes, tree nuts, and vegetables.

Targeted pest control with systemic and trans-epidermal mobility

RinoTec Technology offers multiple modes of action to protect crops from economically significant pests, including plant-parasitic nematodes, wireworms, whiteflies, thrips, mites, lepidopterans, and western corn rootworm. It can be applied at planting as an in-furrow liquid or as a foliar treatment during the growing season.

Once applied to the soil, RinoTec is absorbed by plant roots, providing protection at a critical growth stage. As a foliar application, the technology exhibits trans-epidermal mobility, allowing it to penetrate leaf surfaces where it remains at lethal concentrations for target pests. When ingested, RinoTec acts as a stomach poison, stopping pest feeding and reducing crop damage.

Additionally, the technology triggers a repellent response within plant roots and the soil, deterring below-ground pests from feeding on developing tubers and root crops.

A safer, more sustainable alternative to conventional insecticides

Conventional pest control solutions, such as pyrethroids and organophosphates, are widely used to manage crop-damaging insects, including western corn rootworm—a pest that costs U.S. corn growers up to $2 billion annually in lost yield and control expenses. RinoTec Technology aims to reduce reliance on these broad-spectrum insecticides by offering a more targeted, bio-based alternative.

The technology’s benefits include:

• Tank-mix compatibility with a wide range of crop protection products and fertilizers, including 10-34-0
• Minimal safety restrictions, including no buffer zone requirement for soil applications, a four-hour restricted entry interval (REI), and a zero-day pre-harvest interval (PHI)
• No closed mixing system requirement, unlike many existing liquid in-furrow insecticides
• Low impact on beneficial insects and pollinators, making it a valuable tool in integrated pest management (IPM) programs

Novel mode of action aids in resistance management

RinoTec Technology belongs to the Insect Resistance Action Committee’s (IRAC) UNB chemical class, which includes bacterial agents (non-Bt) with an unknown or uncertain mode of action (MoA). Initial laboratory studies suggest that RinoTec effectively controls Bt-resistant insect populations, potentially warranting its own IRAC classification.

Resistance to insecticides remains a critical issue in agriculture, particularly among lepidopteran pests that have developed resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins within IRAC group 11A. RinoTec is not expected to be cross-resistant with other insecticide MoAs, including IRAC groups 4A, 5, 9B, 23, and 28. As a result, it can be used in combination or rotation with conventional chemistries to delay resistance development.

Expanding Pro Farm Group’s bio-based portfolio

Headquartered in Davis, California, Pro Farm Group specializes in developing and commercializing naturally derived pest management and plant health technologies for agriculture and the ornamentals industry. RinoTec will be added to the company’s growing product portfolio, which includes Venerate bioinsecticide, Regalia biofungicide, and Emergen L biological fertilizer.

With its efficacy, safety, and compatibility with sustainable farming practices, RinoTec Technology represents a promising advancement in pest control, providing growers with a viable alternative to conventional chemical solutions.