DuPont is launching on the market Coragen®, an innovative solution to control a harmful insect of potato crops, the Tuber Moth, that recently is increasingly damaging potato fields in the warmest countries of the Mediterranean area. Luigi Coffano, DuPont Italiana Country Manager and Food Chain Manager EMEA, presents the strategy underlying this new product: "The commercial launch of DuPont Coragen is part of the global goals DuPont set to address food safety challenges and increasing population."
By 2050 there will be 9 billion people, therefore it is crucial to increase food production of 70%, to maximize yields by protecting crops from insects damages, to raise the nutritional value of food and to identify potential food contamination before it turns in a health disease.
Italy is the first country where this product is registered for this new use, therefore approved for field use, ensuring an effective solution in terms of performances, costs and sustainability.
(Photo: DuPont Potato Tuber Moth Meeting, by courtesy of Sannino and Espinosa, all rights reserved).
Coffano explains: "The development of a product is a very long process which, starting from the discovery of the molecule to the launch in the commerce of the compound, through a series of steps where the product is submitted to strict and severe efficiency, toxicology and environment texts, it usually ends after 8 or 10 years with the authorization to the commercial launch from the competent authorities."
(Photo: DuPont Potato Tuber Moth Meeting, by courtesy of Sannino and Espinosa, all rights reserved).
"Coragen® has been available for Italian growers since 2009, with interim injunction solicited from growers associations, for the use on pome fruits trees with the goal of solving the problem of severe Cydia pomonella infestations, the common 'codling moth'. The following year, with Ministerial Decree, Coragen® obtained the authorization for the use on several other cultures, such as vine, potato, maize and peach. Coragen® is available in more than 100 countries all over the world, with diversified authorizations for usage based upon specific cultivations and local adversities."
(Photo: DuPont Potato Tuber Moth Meeting, by courtesy of Sannino and Espinosa, all rights reserved).
The potato is one of the cultivations most suffering from the presence of parasites and diseases in terms of production and quality. Some studies show that losses from biological adversities on potatoes are around 40%. Moreover, the potato tuber moth, not only delivers a reduction of crop production, but it also has a negative impact mainly on stored potatoes, delivering huge losses.
Besides that, potatoes showing tuber moth damages cannot be processed by food industries for the production of French fries, because alterations generated from the parasite imply that during the frying process, potatoes lose tasting and healthy qualities, therefore they have to be necessarily eliminated.
The product is available in main pesticide retailers, agriculture associations and cooperatives all through Italy. You can also email the address above to ask more specific info about local areas.
DuPont offers professional potato growers the product Executive® for the control of weeds, Equation®Pro and the range Curzate® for the protection of cultures from criptogamic diseases, Vydate® for the protection from dangerous nematodes infesting the root system of potatoes.
Further info: dp.agro@ita.dupont.com
Who is:
Luigi Alessandro COFFANO - In DuPont since 1986 assuming several positions in sales and marketing area. Recently, Business Unit leader Italy and Greece, from 2002 to 2007, Business Unit leader Turkey, Greece, Africa and Middle East from 2007 to 2011. Country leader Italy from 2012 and Food Chain EMEA manager from May 2013.