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Chemical Industries 259

One example of a green insecticide is Spinetoram™—an insect con-
trol technology derived from the fermentation of a naturally occurring
soil organism followed by chemical modifications. The technology is
based on spinosyns, a novel class of natural products that are active
against certain types of insect pests. The development of spinosad began
with a soil sample taken by an Eli Lilly and Company scientist on
vacation. Upon analysis, a biological activity organism (see Figure
13.3) was discovered that had insect control potential. Full-scale
trials were conducted and spinosad received EPA approval for use in
numerous crops.
In searching for ways to further enhance the natural product, Dow
AgroSciences was able to achieve improved efficacy and an expanded
spectrum of pest applications by using artificial neural networks to
investigate structure-activity relationships [4]. Spinetoram™ offers a
unique combination of characteristics, including:
• Provides long-lasting control of a broad spectrum of insect
pests in a variety of crops
• Can be applied at low rates and has low impact on most ben-
eficial insects
• Favorable toxicological profile as it relates to mammals, birds
and aquatic organisms
• Safety to beneficial insects, providing an excellent fit with
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs
• Unique mode of action makes it an ideal fit for resistance man-
agement programs

FIGURE 13.3 S. spinosa, the producing organism of the spinosyns,
magnifi ed 20,000 times.