Foresight has received a Phase II SBIR grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to further develop a novel biologically-based method to manage invasive and native pest ant populations, primarily red fire ants. In Phase I, Foresight demonstrated that the compounds negatively affect potential colony queens and cause worker ant mortality. In the Phase II, Foresight will field test prototype bait products with assistance from USDA, Agricultural Research Service through a CRADA. A natural insecticide/bait for Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) control would provide an effective environmentally neutral option that would reduce the need for potentially damaging chemical treatments. The new RIFA bait option will benefit many economic sectors afflicted by RIFAs, such as agriculture, electric & communications, schools, residential households and will support economic development of rural organic farming.
Learn more about the grant here
For further information about Foresight and this project, please contact Norton Kaplan by telephone at: 1-401-354-1342 or by email at: Norton.kaplan@foresightst.com.