News Archive

Contributions of Andermatt Biocontrol at the 13th European Meeting of the IOBC Working Group: Insect Pathogens and Insect parasitic Nematodes at Innsbruck, Austria in June 2011.

	Use of resistance overcoming CpGV isolates and CpGV resistance situation of the codling moth in Europe seven years after the first discovery of resistance to CpGV-M
	Control of Oriental Fruit Moth and Codling Moth with a new Granulovirus Isolate

New Partnership between Andermatt Biocontrol and Madumbi Bio Farms

The Swiss company Andermatt Biocontrol and the South African company Madumbi Bio Farms have formed a new partnership to strengthen their market position in South Africa. Both companies share a vision to develop sustainable environmentally-friendly solutions for the rapidly growing sustainable agricultural market in Southern Africa. Madumbi Bio Farms has acquired a majority stake of Andermatt South African subsidiary Andermatt South Africa (Pty) Ltd., which will trade as Madumbi Sustainable Agriculture (Pty) Ltd.

Andermatt Biocontrol is a global leader in the development, production and supply of baculovirus products. In 2010, Andermatt Biocontrol established its subsidiary company Andermatt South Africa, with a clear objective of getting closer to the South African market. To date, Andermatt South Africa has been responsible for the marketing of baculovirus products CRYPTEX® against false codling moth on citrus, pomegranates and persimmons and MADEX® against codling moth on apples.

The team at Madumbi has vast experience in the South African market and will make use of its excellent National and Regional marketing skills. The existing Andermatt South Africa products will be, complimented by the Plant Vitality products available through Madumbi.

Madumbi Bio Farms Director, Andre Fox, has been appointed the CEO of Madumbi Sustainable Agriculture, which with its team of people and products is in a unique position to offer a large range of innovative products, backed by a high level of infield technical support. With an innovative pipeline behind Madumbi Sustainable Agriculture, the company is set to be of service to its customers for some time to come.

Andermatt Biocontrol sets a milestone in developing a new Baculovirus product

Andermatt Biocontrol Switzerland is due to release a new Baculovirus product for the combined control of codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and oriental fruit moth (Grapholita molesta). While current granulovirus products are used primarily in pome fruit today, the new virus strain will provide oriental fruit moth control options for peaches, nectarines as well as other stone fruits. Moreover it will facilitate biological pest control of the increasing incidence of Grapholita molesta in apples and pears.

The new isolate has been successfully tested against the two key pest lepidopteran species in numerous field tests in Europe. Further field trials are currently running in the southern hemisphere.

Like the existing range of granuloviruses (e.g. MADEX), the new strain produced by Andermatt Biocontrol will combine highly specific and residue-free insect control thus providing an IPM-friendly resistance management tool.

“It is the first time that a granulovirus product is effective against two key pests – the oriental fruit moth and codling moth – at field level. It thus sets new standards in the engineering of Baculoviruses for the future and will definitively widen the application range for fruit growers”, says Daniel Zingg, CEO of Andermatt Biocontrol.

The active substance is currently scheduled for Annex I inclusion and respective registration preparations are under way outside Europe. It is estimated that the new larvicide will be launched between 2012 and 2014 through existing distribution partners of Andermatt Biocontrol all over the world. At present, the new isolate is patent pending.

Andermatt Biocontrol founded a subsidiary company in South Africa

Andermatt Biocontrol AG, specialists in the production of baculovirus products, insect parasitic nematodes and beneficial insects, has founded a subsidiary company in Amanzimtoti, South Africa. Andermatt South Africa will give Andermatt Biocontrol better access to the South African market. The goal of the company is to provide superior biological alternatives to replace chemical pesticides. Andermatt South Africa (Pty) Ltd. will focus on field trials, registrations and distribution of baculoviruses, as well as of acquired biocontrol products.

Andermatt Biocontrol AG takes over Topcat GmbH

With the aquisition of Topcat GmbH by Andermatt Biocontrol AG of Grossdietwil (LU), all Topcat products will now be distributed by Andermatt Biocontrol AG, effective immediately. This includes the Topcat traps and associated tools as well as the Standby-Voletraps.

Restructuring of the Andermattt-Group

At the beginning of 2009 the company was restructured. The administration and real estate has been split off and placed into a new Service Company. Daniel Zingg, who joined Andermatt Biocontrol in 1996 as Product Manager and for the last 10 years has been responsible for Marketing, has become the new Managing Director of Andermatt Biocontrol.