[On the Road] Innovative Solutions For a New Decade

Basic manufacturers — like their PMP counterparts — are taking a hard look at their businesses, adjusting where appropriate in an attempt to continue to meet the ever-changing needs of their customers following the recent challenges of the "Great Recession." One such manufacturer is Bayer Environmental Science, which recently hosted PCOs from 23 states at a two-day conference designed to update them on the company’s plans for the industry, as well as reaffirm its commitment to the pest management industry.

Titled "Innovative Solutions for the Challenges of a New Decade," the conference’s keynote address was presented by Bob Rosenberg, senior vice president, National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Rosenberg, who recently celebrated his 21st anniversary with the association, said big changes are occurring in our nation’s capital that likely will have long-term implications for the pest management industry. And while any one of those changes "isn’t all that big a deal," he said, "taken collectively, it’s massive."

Leading the regulatory charge is EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. "She’s a star in this cabinet," Rosenberg observed. Jackson, former New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection, is responsible for overseeing the agency’s three top priorities: environmental justice, children’s health and climate change. "And I don’t think what we do to protect children’s health (i.e., reducing cockroach allergens in structures, bed bug management, rodent control, etc.) is what Lisa Jackson is talking about," Rosenberg warned.

Children’s pesticide exposure — which PMPs continue to address through perimeter treatment programs, targeted pesticide applications and various IPM initiatives — is a more likely battleground for the hearts and minds of the American public, according to Rosenberg.

Another new face at EPA is Steve Owens, assistant administrator of the Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances. Prior to his appointment, Owens served as director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and as an advisor to former presidential candidate Al Gore, raising concerns among some industry observers.

Under the Obama Administration, the Office of Prevention, Pesticides & Toxic Substances has an "ambitious agenda," according to Rosenberg, which includes providing greater transparency when regulating pesticides; registration review of existing pesticides to "bring them up to contemporary scientific standards"; revised SOPs for residential exposure; enhancing interagency efforts to protect endangered species; and Clean Water Act permits for pesticide applications.

"Is this the perfect storm?" Rosenberg asked, a "storm" that could result in the loss of additional classes of chemistry, mirroring the loss of organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons of a bygone era. "The history of pest control in the last 50 years has really been the history of chemicals," he observed. "Will new pesticides be available to replace the ones we lose?"

Perhaps some of the industry’s older chemistries "won’t pass muster under this new regulatory regime" and if new products are registered they’re "certainly going to be less persistent, much more targeted products," Rosenberg said. "We’re starting to hear those footsteps again. There’s ample reason to be concerned about the future availability of these products."

Rosenberg is confident, however, that whatever regulatory challenges the industry may face in the future, PMPs will adapt because that’s the nature of entrepreneurs. "What you need to know is a lot of change is coming," he said. "Five years from now, the companies that thrive and survive … will (be those that) understand those changes."

FUTURE SOLUTIONS. In response to the rapidly changing regulatory environment and the dynamic nature of the pest control marketplace, Bayer ES is constantly evaluating and adjusting its research initiatives, according to Dr. Byron Reid, product development manager. And a big part of that effort is "Protecting Tomorrow … Today" — the company’s corporate-wide sustainability initiative.

While some may dismiss the benefits of sustainable development, "it’s a big thing for publicly traded companies," observed Reid. "Sustainability is about the future. It’s about taking into account the future state of society, of the industry, of yourself."

And one of the major challenges facing basic manufacturers committed to sustainable development is successfully addressing the public’s "irrational fear of pesticides." Unfortunately, Reid said, "society has forgotten to fear the pests."

As a result, PMPs find themselves increasingly under attack by anti-industry activists, making it even more important that the industry aggressively defend its current product portfolio. "I am convinced there will be new active ingredients that will be available in the future, but there will not be as many as there used to be," Reid warned. And the compounds that are developed won’t be as persistent or as broad spectrum as their predecessors, which could prove problematic for PMPs offering quarterly or bi-annual service. "It’s going to make our job a lot tougher."

When faced with such a challenging business and regulatory climate, the benefits of investing in R&D and sustainability programs become even more apparent. "We have to make our existing active ingredients work better," Reid said. And those active ingredients must be applied at lower rates and in fewer locations, while at the same time doing "more for us."

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New Products, Label Enhancements Announced

As part of its "Innovative Solutions for a New Decade" conference, Bayer ES unveiled a number of recent additions and enhancements to its product line. For instance, three new pests were recently added to the Temprid label: brown recluse spiders, Pharaoh ants and bed bugs.

Temprid, featuring a fusion of imidacloprid and beta-cyfluthrin, provides rapid knockdown and control of bed bugs in an easy-to-use formulation, according to Eric Lentz, general insect control marketing manager, Bayer ES. "We are thrilled to deliver a new weapon in the fight against bed bugs to the industry, especially at a time when infestations are on the rise nationwide." Temprid kills bed bugs eggs when applied as a direct treatment and, more surprisingly, dried residues prevent eggs from hatching, Lentz said. The product is packaged in 400-ml bottles with six bottles to a case.

Also featured at the conference was Maxforce Quantum, a new ant bait featuring a hygroscopic formula that remains attractive for up to three months, according to Gordon Morrison, Maxforce market manager. Containing 0.03% imidacloprid, the bait features Bayer’s delayed action kill, commonly referred to as the Domino Effect®.

The clear, odorless formulation comes in a 120-gram squeeze bottle that delivers 600 0.2-gram bait placements. Each 12-bottle case of the product also comes with 120 free Maxforce Refillable Buffet Stations, which were developed by Bayer scientists specifically for this product. "We looked at a variety of different (bait station) designs," Morrison said. Ultimately, the company decided on a "buffet station" that can accommodate several different baits in four separate wells.

In designing the station, Morrison said "one of the things we wanted to do was address a concern of our customers, who expressed an interest in switching baits. With a pre-filled bait station you’re stuck. This gives our customers the flexibility they desire. It allows them to use their own knowledge of local conditions to tailor their program. We’re convinced the market will see a lot of value in the station."

Made of clear, recycled plastic, the station protects bait from the elements while preventing absorption into porous surfaces. In addition, it is easy to fill and inspect, and space is available on the inside cover to place a business card. The station also features a textured ramp for greater traction and easier access to the station by the target pests, as well as holes on each side of the unit so it can be anchored to a surface.

"It’s another example of our move to sustainable packaging," Morrison said. "And there’s nothing more sustainable than baiting to control pests," added Dr. Byron Reid, product development manager, Bayer ES. "It’s targeted. Bait is removable, so there’s no pesticide residue left in the station. And you can take it with you."

Also featured was Maxforce Complete, specially designed by Bayer researchers to take advantage of the nutritional preferences of a broad range of perimeter pests, including ants, cockroaches, crickets and silverfish. The enhanced formula includes protein, simple sugars, fats and complex carbohydrates. "The darker the granule, the more protein it contains," Morrison observed. "It makes it more versatile for different pests at different times of the year. It takes the guesswork out of pest control. What we’re going for is a product you can use to control a wide variety of pests and it won’t matter when you put it out. It’s truly a buffet."

Containing 1% hydramethylnon, Maxforce Complete features Bayer’s exclusive Domino Effect, a delayed action secondary kill which is effective against social insects.

In closing the final session at the conference, Sales Manager Eric Lentz thanked attendees for their attention, as well as their financial support over the years, which has allowed Bayer to continue to invest in the pest control industry and work "behind the scenes to bring innovative, efficacious products to the marketplace."

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The way to achieve those ambitious goals, according to Reid, is to think differently about the science of pest control. "It’s going to require us to change." It’s going to require basic manufacturers to develop products featuring enhanced formulations, while continuing to invest in basic research to identify future generations of a.i.’s.

The industry’s job isn’t simply to "make or apply a pesticide," Reid said. It’s to "solve a problem. Ultimately, "we are all problem solvers." Reid told conference attendees that by checking "our ideas against your ideas," that’s how the industry solves problems. "That’s why we have this forum," to identify issues of importance to PMPs and to develop innovative solutions to address those problems. A case in point is the burgeoning bed bug problem throughout the United States, which was addressed by another speaker on the program, Dr. Michael Potter, professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky.

"In my opinion, this is going to be the most serious pest issue of our generation," Potter said. "There’s going to be tremendous benefit to our industry" because as a result of the rapid spread of bed bugs, a growing number of Americans "will understand they are not entitled to a vermin-free existence. They’re going to sense, bug-wise, what it’s like to live in a third-world country."

A key reason bed bug problems are growing so rapidly is because it’s an insect "nobody wants to talk about," Potter added. "This is not just a North American problem anymore. It is literally a bug without borders. It’s a global resurgence."

Potter acknowledged that pyrethroid resistance has been an issue when attempting to control this increasingly ubiquitous pest, but manufacturers are investing significant financial resources into enhanced formulations and innovative technologies designed to positively address the problem even as resistant bed bug populations grow.

"We’ve looked at 110 populations collected throughout the United States (and) nearly 90 percent had the genetic mutations for pyrethroid resistance," he said. "The picture does not look good."

"There will always be some pests that develop resistance to some classes of pesticides," added Bayer’s Byron Reid, but that’s where innovative formulations can make a difference. "I don’t lie in bed at night worrying about going out of business because of resistance." What he does lie awake at night thinking about is innovative ways to help PMPs in the field to address their most troublesome pest problems. Towards that end, Bayer recently added bed bugs to the Temprid label. Featuring a combination of imidacloprid and beta-cyfluthrin, Temprid provides rapid control of adult bed bugs, including resistant strains, along with residual control of eggs, according to Eric Lentz, general insect control marketing manager. The product also offers a broad label.

Despite the challenges posed by bed bugs and other constantly evolving pest populations, Potter said basic manufacturers like Bayer ES are working behind-the-scenes on the industry’s behalf. "Bayer is engaged. Bayer is committed," he said. "While you may not agree with every single thing they say, they are a partner you have to respect. They will figure out a way to get there and assist this industry."

CONCLUSION. In his closing remarks, Business Director Chris Pienaar said the conference was a way for Bayer to show its appreciation to the industry for its support. Obviously, 2009 was "an extremely challenging year" for many, but he assured those in attendance that "Bayer’s pest control business is in good shape." Pienaar said the long-term goal of the company is to "protect future generations" from harmful pests, but to do it in a sustainable and environmentally responsible fashion. "We’re certainly not resisting regulations." In fact, Bayer is actively engaged in the process — regularly interacting with customers and regulators alike — because "the best way to predict the future is to change it," he said.