NRDC Transfers Mosquito Control Larvicidal Formulation Technology to a Startup

New Delhi: Dr. H. Purushotham. Chairman & Managing Director, National Research Development Corporation informed through the press release that NRDC and M/s ARGHOS INTERNATIONAL, Kolkata, a start-up company in Biolarvicide have entered into License Agreement for commercialization of Mosquito Larvicidal formulation of Bacillus Thuringiensis  Var. Israelensis, an aqueous suspension for killing mosquito at larval stage developed by VCRC, Pondicherry, a laboratory under ICMR, Ministry of Health, Govt. of India.

 

Mosquito Larvicidal formulation of   Bacillus Thuringiensis Var. Israelensis is proven bio-control agents and has come to be recognized as one of the prime candidates against the larvae of several mosquito species such as Aedes, Anopheles, Culex etc. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis is extremely safe to associate aquatic organisms like copepods, beetles, fishes etc. and beneficial insects like honeybees and silkworms. 

 

Extensive field trials as per CIB guidelines have been conducted by the laboratory. The residual activity of the formulation was assessed as per the protocol described by WHO (2005). CIB has already given permanent registration under section 9(3) of Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) for production of the larvicide, which is mandatory.

 

NRDC has so far licensed this technology to 16 companies in India and contributing to Startup India and Make In India Programme of Government.