Release system wins innovation award Technology

Koppert's release system for 'Mirica,' its biological solution, has won the first prize in the international Fruit Logistica Innovation Award Technology. The award was presented in Berlin on 9 February. The award is concerned with innovations in the entire fruit and vegetable supply chain.

Tim Bossinga (product manager of Koppert) says: "Innovation lies at the core of Koppert's DNA and is a result of its continuous product development."

Source: Koppert

Corrugated cardboard
Koppert's innovation is replacing plastic product packaging with corrugated cardboard. According to Koppert, the cardboard strips form a "natural habitat for the Mirical beneficial bugs." Namely, according to the company, the cardboard corrugations enable bugs to "hide and better distribute themselves during transportation. As a result, the predatory bugs are protected during transportation and arrive at their destination in optimal condition."

In addition, the company points out that the packaging "reduces" clumping while "improving" bug distribution in the crop, which aims to benefit performance and whitefly control. Furthermore, Koppert claims that the cardboard strips are "fully compostable," "labor-saving," "more accurately to dose," and "easy to locate."

Source: Koppert

Generalist pest predator
Mirical is a generalist predator with a preference for greenhouse whitefly, tobacco whitefly, eggs, caterpillars of the tomato leaf miner moth, and other moths. They also feed on two-spotted spider mites, aphids, and leaf miner larvae. The product was launched in France last year.