• Euonymous scale attacked by predatory nitidulid / large nursery owner is willing to introduce and work with natural enemy / possibility to place beetle on plants prior to sale so natural enemy is dispersed with minimum effort.
• Golf course owner interested in biologicals / does not want to use pesticides on golf course / very motivated.
• Colorado wheat grower buying ladybugs for Russian wheat aphid / personnel at Colorado State University skeptical of control potential / enthusiasm vs doubt!
• Grape leafhopper on grapes / interplanting grapes with flowers to enhance nectar sources available to natural enemies.
• Apple system & apple grower / biological control of spider mites via releases of predatory mites / consultant mass reared predators, however, problems encountered in predator rearing so the natural enemies were purchased form commercial producers.
• Take advantage of enthusiastic innovators.
• Almond system / Bt for peach twig borer plus dormant sprays.

• Acquisition of natural enemies via local distributor (e.g., hardware store) - complete order form, pay for service, and have natural enemies sent from producer to grower.
• AM WAY / AVON Model of marketing & distribution - have a local individual that makes arrangements for customers (friends & associates?) to purchase biological control agents. Similar to "farmer / dealer" model with crop seeds.
• Partnership between biological control companies and chemical pesticide companies to preserve efficacy and reduce risks of specific pesticides.
• Release low numbers of pests into plantings to encourage natural enemies to establish early within a crop.
• Development of a lobbyist group of biological control (in Washington, DC) - would push ideas for several organisms. Would take on and advocate issues advantageous to implementation of biological control.
• Association of biological control companies - have a seal of "quality." Recognition of a group. Arthropods and microbials together.
• Government agency that sells natural enemies to company that later sells natural enemies to users - would be beneficial for those natural enemies that are not produced commercially.
• Contracts from supermarkets that dictate biological control / IPM be used in production of fresh market produce (follows the pesticide model).

• Establish focus group to test waters relative to pests that need to be controlled (indigenous and newly introduced exotic pests?). Should company try to address all needs within an area or emphasize limited number of pest systems?
• Form a corporation or other legal entity with a good management team. Establish a diversity of products that may be distributed to various locations. Probably would not send all products to all locations.
• Determine scope of products to offer (what niches should be filled relative to need for natural enemies?). Form a business plan. Need money. Select products that are logical for enterprise.
• Take stock of expertise and technology available: rearing of arthropod natural enemies; nematodes; antagonists and biopesticides. Option: outside contracting for production of biologicals.
• Does the company want to offer only locally produced products OR a combination of locally produced plus centrally produced products (e.g., biopesticides)?
• Start a pilot franchise operation with good management personnel. Locate organic growers and work with them. Make sure company has liability insurance.
• Advertisement of services. Establish demonstration plots along with "field days" for public viewing. Have "farmer / dealers." Provide "give-me" caps with advertisement on cap front. Make sure that the idea is placed in people’s minds. Identify receptive practitioners.
• Initiate lobbying at state and federal level for favorable legislation.
• Obtain governmental permits to ship across state lines.
• Will probably need to obtain business "rights" to some patents.
• Prepare for success and a buyout!!
• Establish a business franchise approach to production and marketing of mass rear natural enemies / biopesticides - would entail a large company but with operations throughout communities for local production of natural enemies. Similar to Trichogramma egg parasitoid production in Russia and China. May be able to secure funding from the Fund for Rural America program for development.
• Value-added products - establish natural enemies on agricultural products before they are marketed to the public or used in the field (e.g., transplants). e.g., establish fungus on plants for diamondback moth before plant is transplanted. e.g., place Trichogramma parasitized lepidopterous eggs on plant.
• BioJet example -on-farm cultivation of natural enemies with one or more kits supplied by a company. Company would provide technical expertise and necessary equipment.
• Formation of grower cooperative among various minor commodities (e.g., vegetables) that need the same natural enemies -produce for farmers.

• Locate and exploit funding sources outside of venture capital.
• Id celebrity to push biocontrol (e.g., Meryl Streep, Paul Newman, Michael Jordan).
• Develop a realistic approach to biological control — accept its limitations.
• Impact public perception of biologicals to drive the legislative process.
• Establish a lobbyist group for biocontrol — paid for by the Association for BC.
• Chemical (pesticide) companies buy into biological control.
• Better education of the agricultural community and regulators — need leadership and networking; videos & websites.
• Streamline the governmental regulation of the biological control process.

Return to Breakout Page

Return to Biocontrol Workshop Homepage