SBIR-STTR Award

Use of more environmentally-friendly products by pesticide consumers would greatly reduce risk to the applicator and the surrounding environs including both the air and water supplies. As well, the development of alternative herbicides that protect food safety would agree with some of the goals for sustainable agriculture and protect quality of life. Public education on safer pesticide choices could be continued through university extensions, vendors and satisfied consumers. Safe, effective herbicides accepted by the organics industry, which is growing at 20% per year, would generate considerable attention and recognition in the U.S. and abroad. Since current herbicide choices for organic growers are quite limited, new products for improved weed control are being sought. Summerdale, Inc. has identified synergistic combinations of fatty and selected synergists, as candidate herbicides. The compounds, common to many foods, are GRAS compounds and the formulations are stable and clearly superior to Scythe, one of the few safer choices as a non-selective herbicide, primarily used for landscaping and by the home consumer. Objectives include: 1) further development of candidate herbicides containing only natural, environmentally-compatible ingredients and 2) evaluation of characteristics (cost/performance) and other advantages versus current products for weed control. OBJECTIVES: Phase I Technical Objectives: Key, general objectives for Phase I is to demonstrate that one or more selected formulations is (are): a) as effective or more effective than commercial products, b) competitively priced with commercial products and c) effective for both grass and broadleaf species. Specific Phase I technical objectives are important and must be met before the efficacy of these formulations as herbicides can be fully realized as new products: 1) Develop, stable herbicide formulations, as stand-alone herbicides where formulations will include natural actives, emulsifiers and adjuvants and then compare formulation efficacy with existing control methods in greenhouse and field trials and 2) Calculate cost ($)/acre for promising stand-alone formulations and determine cost and performance characteristics and advantages that would be attractive to end-users: growers (conventional and organic), home consumers and industrial/commercial buyers. APPROACH: Objective #1: The components in natural herbicide formulations will include those compounds that are naturally-derived and have the best opportunity for USDA or OMRI approval as a method for weed control. The 3 fundamental types of ingredients will include an active ingredient (AI), emulsifier (s) and adjuvant/amendment (s) functioning as a synergist for the AI. The nature and ratio of various formulation ingredients have been carefully evaluated based on cost, safety, availability in bulk quantities, compatibility with other formulation ingredients and effect on herbicide activity against a broad spectrum of weed species. Formulations having favorable ingredient combinations will be screened to achieve: a) stable, homogeneous formulations as concentrates (over 2 months of storage), b) stable mixtures or dilutions of concentrates in water, without phase separation for up to two hours of storage and, c) excellent herbicide activity based on greenhouse and field-trial test results. Natural emulsifiers and promising adjuvants/amendments will be formulated with a specific fatty acid as the active ingredient. The most promising weed control formulations will be compared with current chemical treatment methods; such as organic approved vinegar (acetic acid), citric acid, corn gluten and soybean oil. Application rate studies will be conducted by both Michigan State University (greenhouse trials via Donald Penner, Department of Crop & Soil Science) and Summerdale, Inc. (field trials by Robert Coleman). Sufficient greenhouse facilities (over 1,000 ft2) are available to Donald Penner at Michigan State University to evaluate and compare experimental formulations to current weed control products during proposed work to meet objective #1. Objective #2: Based on bulk costing (truck or 45,000 lbs) a cost of goods sold (COGS) of ingredients likely to be used in experimental formulations (fatty/organic acid herbicides) is about $1.15/lb. This averages the active, emulsifier and adjuvant/amendment costs, where the 3 ingredients in a natural herbicide formulation (objective #1) would fall within certain ranges; i.e., 85% active (fatty acid), 10 to 14% synergist and 1 to 5 % natural emulsifier. There may be some variation to those ratios but the ingredient percentages represent a good point at which to begin. A factor of 2.5 to 4.0 (X COGS) would be used to estimate projected grower costs ($/lb) for a new herbicide. The range of 2.5 to 4.0, based on pricing models obtained from two pesticide manufacturer/distributors, would include profit and recovery for distribution, sales, marketing and registration costs for a natural product via the US EPA bio-pesticide route.

Rapid growth of organic agriculture has created a greater demand for effective weed control, the most urgent problem facing organic growers. Current weed control methods are inefficient, expensive and labor-intensive, resulting in substantial reductions in profitability for fruit and vegetable growers. Summerdale, Inc. will develop a new herbicide for organic growers. The synergistic combination of selected, food-grade compounds holds great promise for the proposed new product, which will be marketed to traditional and organic growers as well as to home consumers. OBJECTIVES: General objectives for Phase I sought performance and cost advantages of the new herbicide over commercial products. After extensive greenhouse and field trials, experimental formulations were superior to existing organic herbicides; i.e., where Phase I formulations achieved >95% herbicidal activity, commercial products were 10 - 50%. Formulation costs appear to be competitive with or lower than existing products. Phase II objectives include: a) improvement of emulsion and storage stabilities, b) understanding herbicidal effect on a broader range of annuals and perennials at different growth stages and climate variation, c) approval for organic use, d) licensee participation in product development and e) demonstration trials with organic growers. APPROACH: A research team is already in place to complete all of the necessary tasks for Phase II. The research team will include Robert Coleman (Summerdale, Inc.), Annemiek Schilder and Don Penner at MSU (Dept of Plant Pathology and Dept of Crop and Soil Sciences), Mark Bernards (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Charles Webber (USDA/ARS at South Central Agricultural Research Center) and Dale Mutch (MSU Kellogg Biological Station, Battle Creek, MI) and support staff at all institutions. The team will meet or teleconference on a periodic basis to review project milestones, experimental design and test results and to plan future work. Progress in developing new herbicide formulations will be reported to the USDA, growers and others in the appropriate industries and trade associations. Summerdale, Inc. has an excellent working relationship and collaborates on numerous projects with both the University of Wisconsin (Departments of Plant Pathology and Food Science) and Michigan State University (Departments of Crop and Soil Science, Entomology, Horticulture and Plant Pathology), thus allowing frequent exchange of information and ideas with scientists of various backgrounds. Improvement of Phase I formulations: both storage & emulsion stabilities (Summerdale, Inc.) Greenhouse comparison of improved formulations and existing organic products: single and dual applications of formulations, each at 2 application rates applied to annuals and perennials including broad-leafs and grasses (Michigan State University, Crop & Soil Science) Field trials: evaluate best formulations versus organic products: a) screening trials for both 1 and 2 spray applications, using two rates on annuals and perennials and b) direct application trials for weed control on corn, soybean, pepper, onion, squash and small fruit (Summerdale, Inc., MSU, University of Nebraska and USDA/ARS) Evaluate data summaries and also obtain feedback from subcontractors and others, especially relating to formulation storage and emulsion characteristics. Select two formulations for necessary modifications and optimization including stability tests (Summerdale, Inc.) Final greenhouse and field testing: a) both greenhouse (MSU, Crop & Soil Science) and field trial screening of best formulations vs. commercial products (Summerdale, Inc., University of Nebraska, USDA/ARS) b) post-direct crop trials: corn, soybean, bell pepper, onion, squash and small fruit (University of Nebraska, USDA/ARS, MSU/Plant Pathology) and, c) herbicide field trials on organic plots at MSU Kellogg Biological Station Complete licensing agreement (for product registration, marketing, distribution and sales), obtain USDA (NOP)/OMRI approval for organic herbicide formulation and establish demonstration trials with growers (Summerdale, Inc. and licensee) Complete Phase II final report and file intellectual property, if appropriate (Summerdale, Inc.)