Peptide emPOWERed™ Insecticides are peptide-based biological pesticides from naturally occurring molecules with effective insecticidal properties benign to mammals and vertebrates and not cross-resistant with synthetic insecticides. Biological pesticides are substances that naturally occur in or are inspired by nature, commonly target specific pests, and decompose quickly. The genes that encode for these peptides are inserted into a yeast strain, which undergoes a fermentation process that yields Spear peptide, the active ingredient for the pesticide. Peptide emPOWERed™ Insecticides are based on sustainable feedstocks, such as sugar and yeast. The peptides also break down into amino acids, which are valuable nutrients for many organisms.
EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2020 Small Business Award
