The technologies developed in OLEFINE enable wide-spread use of pheromones, which can substitute insecticides in agricultural pest management. With the global population expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and concerns growing over the unsustainability of chemical insecticides use, there is a need for safe eco-friendly alternatives for crop protection. Until recently, pheromones were exclusively produced by chemical synthesis from petroleum-derived chemicals and were too expensive to compete with conventional insecticide spays. Consequently, despite the decades of research demonstrating the efficacy and sustainability of pheromone-based pest control techniques, they could only address niche markets, such as protection of high-value fruits and vegetables, including the organic produce. OLEFINE has removed this barrier to wide application of pheromones, also for row crops, by creating a novel technology for efficient low-cost production of pheromones by yeast fermentation.
OLEFINE has successfully demonstrated the techno-economic viability and sustainability of biologically produced insect pheromones as safe and environmentally friendly insecticide substitutes. Bio-based process overcome the limitations of the current production of pheromones by chemical synthesis from petrochemical feedstocks. As the result, the pheromones can now be produced at a reduced cost and with low environmental footprint, and are beginning to revolutionize the pest control in agriculture and forestry. The global market for pheromone-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) products is at €1.6 billion per annum and growing rapidly, but market growth is limited by the high price of chemically produced pheromones. Biological production of cheaper pheromones is a market disrupting technology that allows rapid expansion of pheromone-based pest management products.
