Microbiotech Ltd

Globally, 80% of commercial soft fruit can be lost as waste due to damage caused by an invasive fruit fly, spotted wing drosophila (SWD). Growers rely on full field sprays of chemical insecticides to protect fruit from SWD, costing £11bn. Recently strawberry growers have also recorded increasing incidence of damage from earwigs with crop losses of 10-30% ...

This feasibility study will enable peat-free production of mushrooms and leafy salads by recycling plant-based substrates from other sectors (including anaerobic digestion, soft fruit and mushrooms). The main technical challenges in recycling peat-free organic materials for these specialist sectors are quality, consistency, crop timing and nutrient balanc...

This SME-led feasibility study will enable peat-free production of mushrooms and leafy salads by twice recycling plant-based substrates from other sectors supporting a truly sustainable solution for these two, high value sectors of horticulture. The main technical challenges in recycling peat-free organic materials for these specialist sectors are quality...

The global soft fruit industry suffers up to 80% crop losses from an invasive fruit fly, spotted wing drosophila (SWD). Growers rely on chemical insecticides to protect fruit from SWD, costing £11bn. We have identified a SWD pathogenic fungus and a bait which SWD feeds on. In this project we will test these two approaches in combination, to develop a more...