Globally recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 400 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes
A single sample taken by an ecologist at any time during the newt breeding season can determine their presence or absence, saving you time and money
Farmers may be facing a perfect crop protection storm that’s fast moving. On the one hand, climate change studies and others are forecasting increasing pest and disease problems with higher summer temperatures stressing both plants and animals, while warmer winters mean more insects and disease are surviving to strike again. Compounding the problem, crop protection companies now have far higher costs, steeper regulatory hurdles, and longer delays for launching new products.
It takes on average about 5-15 years to develop one complete crop protection and nutrition product from the time it is discovered to when it is available for treating crops and plants. The average cost to research and develop each successful complete crop protection and nutrition product is estimated to be nearly reaching the £500 million mark. This number includes the cost of the thousands of failures: For every 1,000 - 5,000 compounds that enter the research and development (R&D) pipeline, ultimately only one receives approval. Success requires immense resources including the best scientific minds, supported with highly sophisticated technology. The task of discovering and developing safe and effective pesticides and other plant protection compounds is becoming an increasingly challenging undertaking however as our knowledge of pest & disease increases we are able to harness this knowledge to deliver more success. Fera provides early discovery and development screening services to support help you successfully patent and register new pesticide and other plant protection compounds. Our scientists will test the efficacy of your compounds under controlled conditions on a wide range of plant pest, pathogen and weed species
Whether you need early screening of new active ingredients, small-scale ‘pilot’ studies to support new product development or large-scale efficacy data for product registration, our scientists have the expertise and resources to deliver a bespoke testing programme to suit your requirements.
* Certificate number: ORETO 134.
We understand the industry and conduct research in our own laboratories and extensive glasshouse facilities including field trials, in order to deliver a swift and agile response to new developments.
Using state-of-the-art facilities and our world-class scientific know-how, we work collaboratively with our clients to co-develop research results allowing for a higher potential to take the compound to the next stage. At all times we are open to new ideas and out-of-the-box thinking as innovation is the key for success.
Fera can work flexibly, performing both small-scale indicative studies or to meet more in-depth higher tier testing requirements for a compound. This includes providing expert guidance to support large-scale efficacy data for product registration and individual environmental fate and ecotoxicology screens for single compounds to support small-scale ‘pilot’ studies. Our bespoke testing programmes suit all scale projects to help our partners successfully patent and register new pesticide and other plant-protection compounds.
Chemical Market Approval
Only approved adjuvants on the HSE list may be used with pesticides including Biopesticides (Bio). If you are looking to market your adjuvant for use with a synthetic (traditional) pesticide or a Bio you must still follow the CRD approval process. Why not get in touch to see how we can your business.
Marc's expertise is in the analysis of computer simulation models and has developed specialist tools and software for sensitivity analysis, uncertainty analysis and calibration of complex models
Phil Jennings has over 25 years of experience in fungal plant pathology, especially epidemiology, disease control, experimental/field trial designs and investigative research approaches.
Ian is a Plant Pathologist with extensive experience in molecular diagnostics, disease surveillance, pathogen epidemiology and in-field detection of plant pathogens in agricultural, horticulture and the natural environment.
Our Senior trials team have more than 20 years' experience conducting replicated field trials. All trials staff are fully trained. You will have access to 4 onsite 816sqm plots simulating true-to-life scenarios. Agricultural trials can be undertaken throughout the year including seed sown during winter months to truly replicate the growing cycle.
Fera offers a comprehensive range of screening services for early discovery and development of new molecules - helping you increase compound value, identification of registration challenges as well as mitigating registration challenges with our efficacy studies. All performed in our extensive environmentally controlled facilities.
An evaluation of efficacy of any new compound is required before any PPP can be developed and then ultimately marketed. At Fera, we understand that the industry is under significant pressure as regulatory requirements for agrochemicals become more stringent, and therefore there are less active ingredients to choose from. Dedicated to supporting our partners bring their products to market, Fera uses original thinking and scientific knowledge to create bespoke solutions that help our partners test new compounds.
Fera can work flexibly, performing both small-scale indicative studies or to meet more in-depth higher tier testing requirements for a compound.
Your Fera efficacy testing programme will be fully confidential. Fera offers a multi stage efficacy screening approach for plant-protection products and control methods.
We can carry out tests for efficacy on a wide range of species, including:
Your tests can be carried out in a range of environments, according to your needs, from controlled laboratory conditions to practical semi-field and full-field trials. We recommend that initial laboratory studies are run in conjunction with phytotoxicity trials, to determine your product’s compatibility with a range of crop species.
| Screen | Tests Available |
|---|---|
| Primary Screen (All compounds) Compounds for primary screening can be tested against: fungal plant pathogens, nematodes, insects, mites and weeds. You can customise testing according to your needs |
Pathogen Efficacy Agar Test Nematicidal Activity Agar Test Entomology Assessment Leaf Dip Herbicidal Activity Seedlings |
| Secondary Screen (compounds assessed against targets where efficacy demonstrated in the Primary Screen) - Secondary screening tests are carried out in planta either in a glasshouse or controlled environment room. In these screens compounds can be applied either at high volumes using hand held atomiser sprayers or at low volume (field rate) using the laboratory track sprayer. |
Pathogen Efficacy - Includes Septoria leaf blotch, brown rust and Asian soybean rust Nematicidal Activity - Agar (concentration ranges) - In planta (sand test) Entomology Assessment Leaf Discs - living/dead ratio Herbicidal Activity - Seedling Weed & Crop Services Drought Stress - Seeding Stomata Assessment |
| Tertiary Screen - Compounds assessed against targets where efficacy demonstrated in Secondary Screen. In these screens compounds can be applied either at high volumes using hand held atomiser sprayers or at low volume (field rate) using the laboratory track sprayer | Resistance Profiling - Various pathogens strains Herbicide Assessment - Pre/post emergence of crop/weeds Fungicide Assessment - Protective/curative Insecticide Assessment - Protective/curative Activity Assessment - Systemic/contact Mode of Action Comparison |
| Quaternary Screen - Compounds assessed targets where efficacy demonstrated in tertiary screen. Quaternary screening studies are tailored for each compound, based on previous screening results and evidence. Studies will be designed to deliver in-silico evaluation of compounds to support the chemical synthesis programme, or to determine likely regulatory issues such as toxicology or ecotoxicology. |
Mammalian Toxiciity - In silico Method Ecotoxicology - In silico Method Bespoke - Based in outputs of previous screens and evidence required |
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