BioSuccess integrates models of pest development and biopesticide efficacy. It allows users, manufacturers and Governments to estimate the time taken for a biopesticide to control insect populations. The tool combines past and forecast temperature data, with biological models of insect development and biopesticide efficacy. It predicts the ‘time-to-kill’, based upon location and time of application.

Over-reliance on chemical pesticides is a growing concern because of their toxicity and developing insect resistance. There is an urgent need to promote safer, effective alternative; fungal biopesticides are emerging as a major alternative. Biopesticides usually take between 5-14 days to kill the pest and the effectiveness of the application depends upon the development rate of the biopesticide, which in turn is largely driven by temperature. The timing of application is crucial.

The global biopesticide market was estimated at €2.5-€3.0Bn in 2017, so there is already a large global market. However, this represents a small proportion of the approximately €40bn overall crop protection market. There is, therefore, a significant market and supply chain already within which to build a business case for BioSuccess and a huge potential to help grow the overall biopesticide market.