CR-7 application via bee vectoring gets EPA approval

Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Clonostachys rosea CR-7 (CR-7) for use as a fungicide on commercial crops.

CR-7 is the first registered active ingredient for the Canadian-based company and the first active ingredient approved by the EPA for application via bees, known as ”bee vectoring”.

Labeled for numerous high-value crops

Sold under the brand name Vectorite with CR-7, the product is labeled for numerous high-value crops, including strawberries, blueberries, sunflowers and almonds. With this approval, BVT is positioned to officially launch and begin to generate revenue with Vectorite with CR-7, starting with this year’s fall and winter blueberry and strawberry season in the U.S. The registration permits BVT to make positive crop protection claims when selling Vectorite with CR-7.

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CR-7 is the first registered active ingredient for the Canadian-based company and the first active ingredient approved by the EPA for application via bees, known as “bee vectoring”. – Photo: BVT

Reducing use of chemicals

“Not only is this a critical milestone for BVT in terms of the commencement of scalable commercialisation and revenue, but it represents a groundbreaking shift in how plant care products can be applied,” said Ashish Malik, CEO of BVT. “By using commercially reared bees to deliver biological products, growers can protect crops, increase crop yields and enhance their sustainable growing practices by reducing the use of chemicals and other costly and increasingly scarce resources including water, fuel and labor.”

BVT pursuing approval from other key countries

BVT is pursuing regulatory approval from other key countries and, because the EPA serves as an affirmative model for regulatory agencies outside the United States, these review processes should move faster and more easily.

The EPA’s registration makes Vectorite with CR-7, EPA Registration. No. 90641-2, available immediately for sale as a registered fungicide for use on the labelled crops.