Spinosad, the active ingredient upon which Natrova™ is based, is a non-synthetic, fermentation product of the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosad was first identified in a soil sample take by a Lilly employee at an abandoned rum still on a Caribbean Island in 1983. Insecticidal activity was first discovered by Lilly in mosquito larvae in 1985, and it was first launched in a commercial, EPA registered product in 1997 with its use for caterpillars in cotton as caterpillars had become resistant to pyrethroids or other broad-spectrum materials. In 2000, the Elanco division of Lilly launched its first animal health product in Australia for use on sheep.
Spinosad has been classified as an “organic” compound and can be used on organic produce. Spinosad is highly effective against targeted pests, and has little effect on most beneficial insects. So while Spinosad controls caterpillars and drywood termites, if used as directed, it will not harm beneficial insects like lady beetles and lacewings. The fact that Spinosad does not harm the natural enemies of harmful insects only further enhances its role as a crop protector, because those insects will go on eating the undesirable bugs. Because Spinosad only affects pests, farmers don’t have to apply as much of it to be effective. Typically only 1.5 to 3 ounces of Spinosad is required per acre, compared to 1.5 to 5 pounds per acre of traditionally used products. That’s a 96% reduction in application rates, meaning that far less pest control agent is used and enters the environment. Spinosad meets Dow’s Sustainable Development principles of product stewardship, eco-efficiency and eco-system integrity. Spinosad is low in toxicity to people and other mammals and birds. Plus it breaks down into simple, organic compounds. Spinosad is safe for people, animals and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Spinosad the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 1999.
The crop protection formulations of Spinosad are now approved by regulatory authorities in more than thirty countries and for use on more than 150 crops. Additionally, Spinosad is approved under the Organic Foods Production Act for use on organic crops in the United States. The Spinosad Technical Bulletin provides an extensive overview of Spinosad, including history, physical and chemical properties, symptomology, mode of action, resistance, resistance management, mammalian toxicity, and worker safety.
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