LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany and ONTARIO, Canada 29h of March, 2010 – BASF and NOD Apiary Products have announced a partnership to bring to European beekeepers a new product that controls the Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that has been identified by independent institutions as a major contributor to the declining number of bee hives on a global scale.
BASF and NOD are investing in “Mite Away™ Quick Strips” (MAQS), which target Varroa mites while they feed on developing baby bees. The backbone of this easy-to-use strip is a film made of BASF’s biodegradable plastic Ecoflex®, which is filled with the miticide formic acid in a saccharide (plant sugar) formulation. The strip’s secret: Designed to penetrate the brood cap, it stops the mite where it reproduces.
“Through our work with scientists, farmers and beekeepers in the Bee Biodiversity Network in France, we have gained a broad understanding of the factors impacting bee health,” says Sandrine Leblond, France-based BASF bee expert. The Network has delivered practical, tested solutions to improve bee nutrition, but to date there is no easy way to control the Varroa mite. Bringing MAQS to the market will help fill this gap, supporting beekeepers and BASF’s farmer customers.
The strips reproduce a defense mechanism observed in nature. Formic acid occurs in the venom of bees and the sting of many insects, such as ants. Nonetheless, it is the convenience and effectiveness of MAQS that gives beekeepers’ peace of mind. The strip can be applied right through the season and beekeepers also enjoy the benefit of a single application product with a short treatment period (7 days versus 42). In product trials in the US, Canada and France, MAQS have controlled up to 97 percent of Varroa mites.
Paying tribute to NOD’s entrepreneurial spirit, Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division said, “We are pleased to be part of a positive solution that addresses the important issue of bee health, which is of central importance to beekeepers and farmers. This is a great example of partnership on many levels. The solution was co-designed not just by BASF and NOD, but importantly by the people who experience the problem first hand – beekeepers. Within BASF, we also used expertise and products from across a number of different divisions.”
David VanderDussen, CEO of NOD Apiary Products said, “I am excited about this relationship and I am very pleased with BASF’s great support. While our companies are very different in terms of size and focus, we share common values and are both passionate about the importance of biodiversity and the protection of the honeybee.”
The strips are already on the market in Canada and the U.S., and authorities in Hawaii requested and received a “Special Local Needs” registration to ensure that beekeepers obtain access to the solution as quickly as possible. BASF and NOD plan to work with registrations authorities in Europe to make MAQS available to the European beekeeping community within 2 years.
According to the terms of the agreement, BASF will provide substantial support to facilitate a global product launch, including on-going technical and regulatory assistance over a five year period. Both companies currently co-own the patent, with BASF committed to providing support for product registration and distribution within the EU.
Website NOD
Website BASF-AGRO
Vertaling op de nederlandse BASF website
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