SenesTech has extended the use of ContraPest into the organic products industry in the US
Image: SenesTech has extended the use of ContraPest into the organic products industry. Photo: courtesy of Hebi B. from Pixabay.
Agricultural biotechnology and life sciences company SenesTech has extended the use of ContraPest for rodent control at Captain Vineyards, a green winery in California, US.
Captain Vineyards has selected ContraPest, which is claimed to be an effective, poison-free solution for rodent control.
SenesTech CEO Kenneth Siegel said: “The organic industry is a natural part of our broader food and agriculture strategy.
“As with their conventional counterparts, organic facilities have struggled with rodent management and are looking for effective solutions. ContraPest, either alone or as part of a broader integrated pest management program, offers them a new alternative that will reduce both product loss and contamination risk. We are excited that the organic industry is responding to our poison-free solution.”
The life sciences company said that the selection by Captain Vineyards further expands its business into the organic products industry.
Captain Vineyards owner and winemaker Sal Captain said: “At Captain Vineyards, as the first and only green winery in Contra Costa County, we take pride in every step of our production process: energy conservation, dry farming, zero waste and reduced carbon footprint. The addition of ContraPest in our integrated pest management plan is an obvious fit.
“Further, we are pleased to introduce ContraPest to our community of vineyards and others committed to sustainability.”
The ContraPest is designed, formulated and dispensed to be low hazard for non-target species such as wildlife, livestock and pets.
It uses a proprietary bait delivery method which is dispensed in a highly palatable liquid formulation, designed to promote sustained consumption by rat communities.
Recently, SenesTech has secured approval from the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) for the extended use of ContraPest in agricultural settings in California.
The CCOF has approved ContraPest’s use at Lundberg Farms, one of the largest organic rice farming operations in California.
Consumption at initial ContraPest stations has been dramatic and the farm is planning to immediately expand the use across the facility.