What Faculty do you work in?
Science and Engineering

What is your main area of research?
Biological control and natural products

Why is your research important?

  • We make use of natural, sustainable resources in a responsible manner. These include Biological Pesticides (“Biopesticides”).
  • We exploit whole organisms (e.g. insect pathogenic fungi) or natural compounds (e.g. plant or insect derived semiochemicals) for the management of invertebrate pests of socioeconomic importance, especially pests which impact on food security and human and animal health.
  • Some microbes control pests but also promote plant growth, helping reduce use of fertilizers which are linked to emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) like nitrous oxide.
  • Many chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers have been withdrawn or are restricted in used because of the risks they pose to human health and the environment.
  • Biopesticides are consider environmentally friendly, promoting biodiversity and are not made from fossil fuels.

What SDG is your research most closely aligned with?

Our products and strategies are aimed at controlling invertebrate pests that impact on food security (e.g. aphids, whitefly, thrips) and human and animal health (e.g. mosquitoes, ticks):

  • GOAL 2: Zero Hunger – We are helping develop products which will protect crops from pests and diseases, promote growth and increase yields
  • GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-Being – we are replacing chemical pesticides and fertilizers with natural agents for pest control and promotion of plant growth. In doing so, we are helping growers reduce pollution of the environment and reduce risks to human health.
  • GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – many chemicals and fertilizers leach into waterways. Nutrients lead to eutrophication.

What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

Develop microbial products to:

  • control crop pests
  • control vectors of human and animal diseases.
  • stimulate plant growth
  • increase plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stress

Develop strategies which help  pesticide and fertilizer inputs and optimize the impact of biopesticides.

Is there a cross-disciplinary element to your research?  If so, who else at the University is involved?

The work is cross-disciplinary:

  • Dr Joel Loveridge (Chemistry) collaborates in projects connected with chemical ecology
  • Professor Chedly Tizoui (Engineering) – developing plant based molluscicide
  • Dr Shirin Alexander (Engineering) – developing novo hydrogel formulations
  • Professor Dan Eastwood and Dr Jim Bull (Biosciences) – fungal biocontrol

Are there any external collaborators involved?

Many external collaborators:

  • Professor Vasili Kouvelis (Greece)
  • Professor Richard Samuels (Brazil)
  • Dr Gloria Ramirez (Paraguay)
  • Professor Ismail Karaca (Turkey)
  • Dr Sare Yavasoglu (Turkey)
  • Dr Maryn Wood (Greece)
  • Dr Abeer Alkhaibari (Saudi Arabia)
  • Dr Arben Myrta (Cetis Belchim)
  • Dr Tarryn Goble (Lallemand)
  • Dr Farooq Shah (Razbio)

I have worked with many other companies – Pelsis, Biobest, etc.

What is next for your research?

  • Develop microbial consortia which act synergistically in protecting crops from pests and diseases and increase plant resilience and yields. Blends of microbes that work synergistically application rates and costs. The blends are also patentable. IP on the new blends could be licensed to industry.
  • Elucidate underlying mechanisms by which the microbes work together in crop protection and plant growth.

 

Professor Tariq Butt