PestiSi innovation in grain storage: cost effective environmentally friendly solution against insects in long-term grain storage by natural diatomaceous earth

Grain storage is becoming increasingly challenging as climate change helps the spread of insects which are responsible for the deterioration of the crop. The efficiency of common methods has decreased drastically. A solution that, in fact, works in practice is the one that the Hungarian innovation called PestiSi offers.

In the framework of an project funded by the Horizon 2020 Programme of the European Union, Pentele Zrt. with the contribution of researchers and plant protection experts has developed the method called PestiSi which enables the protection of stored crop with a natural, diatomite-based solution. It kills all insects, including larvae. Its long-lasting effect stretches up to 1 year, while it is completely harmless to humans and vertebrates.

Grain storage becoming more and more challenging

The simultaneous appearance of multiple problems shaped the development of the method:

- Due to the change of the climate, with more frequently occurring big temperature fluctuations and the warmer weather, the life conditions of pests improved. Today, there are no long cold periods during the winter season anymore so the resting period of the insects shortens pushing us into continuous protection.
- The efficiency of the usual treatment (handling with phosphine-based gas) decreased because, its frequent, compelled use makes insects resistant to it.
- The decreasing number of licenced active substances also urges the need for an alternative to the chemical treatment which enables the pest free storage of grain and maize even for 1 year.

What makes the PestiSi solution different from the existing methods?

Pentele Zrt. has developed the PestiSi method within a 2- year project which finishies in July 2021. Its total budget is 784 000 EUR out of which 550 000 EUR is financed by the Horizon 2020 Programme. . The basis of the method is the PestiSi formula and the PestiSi mixing system which ensures the even coverage of the crop.

The PestiSi formula: a highly effective insecticide. Its active ingredient is diatomaceous earth with a special shape and size of crystals which, when reaches into the respiratory system of the insects, kills them. As this works through mechanical means rather than chemical, it is completely harmless to humans and vertebrates and resistance does not develop.

The PestiSi mixing system: a special industrial procedure that ensures the even coverage of the formula on the stored grain.

6 reasons to use the PestiSi method

The PestiSi solution ensures the extermination of all insects by applying a small amount of the formula and the pest free condition of the crop over the long term, for the entire storage period.
- It is effective against all storage insects
- It results the full extermination of insects within 2 weeks
- Only one treatment provides protection for 1 year and blocks crop deterioration
- Diatomite is a natural material, harmless to vertebrates
- No need for involving a gas master (unlike in the case of using the currently spread phosphine gas-based storage treatment substances)
- PestiSi can easily sieved out of the grain, however, the amount of formula required for the successful treatment of the grain is below the threshold set for inorganic dust traces by the European Standard Regulations so it does not need to be eliminated.

It will be accessible for everyone

The permission application of the method is in pending status. The patent application for the equipment has been submitted as well as the EU trademark application. Due to the increasing number of farmers who own crop storage buildings we sense an escalating interest in chemical free and effective solution for grain storage.

The system will be able to handle 5-600 tonnes or even more than 10 thousand tonnes of crop.

The prototype of the system will appear in a half year according to the plans; it will be available for purchase in a year. Based on the market research and the business plan carried out by the experts of this innovation, we can say that most of the storage owner farmers will be able to use our solution; the cost of the treatment will be lower than the 3 treatments of the conventional (gas) method.

About the project in a nutshell

At the beginning of the project, which runs in the framework of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, an efficiency study has been carried out by SGS Hungária Ltd. in their verification laboratory in Cegléd, Hungary. The examination covered wheat, maize and barley. The procedure proved successful in all three cases.

The examination of the system continued with industrial measures and in a flat storage building and we can say that the warehouse of Pentele Zrt. involved in the experiment has been pest free now for 8 months.

The aim of the project is to make the system function at industrial scale, to exterminate all insects and to hold its pest free effect through the entire storage period.

Further steps

For now, the development could mean a revolution in our home country but the long-term aim is to introduce it to the international stage. It could also be a key solution in shipping. The development plans also contain the optimization for use in silos.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 859450.

Dr. László Berta, CEO
Pentele Zrt.
Kenyérgyári út 10.
H-2400 Dunaújváros, Hungary

Pentele Agricultural Co (Pentele Mg Zrt.) produces agricultural products on 1050 ha near Dunaújváros 70 km south from Budapest, Hungary. The company was founded in 1959. Pentele Zrt. has almost 7000 metric tonnes of storing capacity, which is used for storing produced goods and goods bought from neighbour smallholders. Dunagabona acquired the majority share stock of Pentele at the end of 2007. Dunagabona Ltd. is a family owned company since 1991, specialized in agricultural trading. Our main activity is production and distribution of agricultural products within Europe, mainly feeding and milling wheat, barley, and maize. Our storing capacity is about 10,000 metric tonne in Murakeresztúr at Southwestern part of Hungary. Our yearly tranship is more than 90.000 metric tonne of milling and feeding wheat, maize, and barley. Beside Hungary, most of our clients are in Italy and Slovenia. We are reaching ca. 15.4 million EURO yearly turnover at group level, which makes us a reliable and independent grain trading group of companies in the region. From the group, Pentele had a revenue of 1.6 million euros in 2017 with a staff of 15 personnel.

This release was published on openPR.