Mar 19, 2021

OMRI registration sought for STARSKii, CART technology by Bioline Agrosciences

Bioline Agrosciences is launching Climate Adapted Release Technology, aka CART, to further strengthen its commitment to growers, farmers and the environment.

According to a news release, the technology has been applied to STARSKii, containing Amblyseius swirskii, for optimized control of thrips and whitefly in multiple crops and conditions.

STARSKii takes all the attributes of Amblyseius swirskii, a highly adaptable mite with a proven ability to cope with changes in the crop, pest and environment, together with an innovative new release system under CART technology to meet the needs of both farmers and beneficial insects.

Caroline Reid, Bioline Agrosciences’ senior technical support lead, wrote to Organic Grower about the product’s use in organics.

“Normally macrobiologicals do not need registration in organics as they are naturally occurring insects,” she wrote. “They are used in organics throughout the world including USA and Europe but we are not registered with OMRI although it is something we are seeking.”

Bioline Agrosciences is recognized as a world specialist in applied Biocontrol technologies with an R&D department working for more than 40 years in the field of insect releases for crop protection, according to the news release.

First releasing the innovative Controlled Release System sachet in 1991, which has been the gold standard ever since, the new sachet in STARSKii combines pre-conditioning of the contents, permeability of the sachet and a carefully balanced formulation to produce perfect conditions for mite development and subsequent control of thrips and whitefly, according to the news release.

“We work hand to hand with technical, production and R+D teams to continuously improve and adapt to growers needs with an environmentally friendly approach; CART technology has boosted performance in the field, bringing high fecundity from the first day of release to give an increased effectiveness against whitefly and thrips,” Reid said in the news release.

According to the release, STARSKii offers:

• Excellent establishment and consistent populations throughout the growing cycle with higher fecundity and higher.
• Optimal behavior and response to increasing and reducing incidence of highly effective control of whitefly and thrips.
• Adapting to fluctuating temperatures and humidities.

Bioline Agrosciences, a leader in applied biocontrol technologies, is a French company with an international dimension, active in more than 35 countries, with eight bio-factories located in the main local markets in Europe, North America and Africa.