Collaboration for development of new formulations and manufacturing processes of Piscamycin® for control of invasive carp
DAVIS, Calif., May 31, 2023 – The Invasive Species Corp. (ISC) (a Delaware public benefit corporation), a provider of bio-based invasive species management and control products, announces the signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for further research and development of Piscamycin® for controlling invasive carp as well as other invasive fish. Late last year, the ISC obtained an exclusive license to Piscamycin. This agreement furthers the collaboration to enhance and improve the product for commercial use.
The active ingredient within Piscamycin has been used extensively for many years by resource management agencies to control fish populations. This CRADA has two main purposes: 1) establish, test and provide Piscamycin in accordance with the guidelines to satisfy the EPA registration and license agreement so that natural resource managers can use it to control populations of invasive fishes, and 2) to refine the manufacturing process. The USGS and ISC are also working together to incorporate Piscamycin into specific bait products to make it selective to target invasive species.
“We are excited to extend our cooperation with the USGS leveraging each organization’s expertise to make this product an economical and essential product for water resource managers,” said Dr. Pam Marrone, Co-founder and Executive Chairperson. “Along with our Zequanox® product for invasive zebra and quagga mussels, Piscamycin provides another valuable tool for control of problematic and spreading invasive species,” said Jim Boyd, Co-founder and CEO.
“The USGS is happy to collaborate with the Invasive Species Corporation to further develop Piscamycin. Government agencies throughout the world need products like this that can help control the spread of invasive species. We are pleased to see this product re-introduced into the marketplace,” said Jon Amberg, PhD – Supervisory Biologist with the USGS – Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.
“The technology transfer program at the USGS is designed to leverage the research capabilities of USGS scientists with the commercial development potential of the private sector. The USGS looks forward to collaborating with ISC to help control the spread of invasive species,” said James Mitchell – Patent and Licensing Manager, USGS –Technology Transfer Program.
About the Invasive Species Corporation
The Invasive Species Corporation was founded to discover, develop and market bio-based solutions to control invasive species in water, forestry and agriculture. Invasive species have caused more than $1 trillion in damage, with more than $420 billion annually and are considered one of the top contributors to the earth’s significant and rapid decline in biodiversity, right behind land-use alteration. The ISC’s goal is to regenerate our planet’s environment through the application of biobased, sustainable and earth-friendly solutions, thereby preserving ecological biodiversity and reversing climate change effects. The ISC is currently selling Zequanox® for invasive zebra and quagga mussel control and is developing Piscamycin™ for control of invasive carp and other invasive fish. The company is also in the discovery phase of a project to develop a microbial natural product (bioherbicide) for invasive and other problematic weeds, still causing major damage to crop lands, reserved spaces, and waterways despite the annual use of $25 billions of synthetic chemical pesticides globally. The company recently announced that it was awarded a $388,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture to find a microbial solution to control of burrowing shrimp harming oyster beds.
About USGS
Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey has evolved over the decades, matching its talent and knowledge to the progress of science and technology. The USGS is the lead science agency for the Department of the Interior. It is sought out by thousands of partners and customers for its natural science expertise and its vast earth and biological data holdings. The USGS provides science about natural hazards, natural resources, ecosystems and environmental health, and the effects of climate and land-use change. Learn more at www.usgs.gov or follow us on Facebook @USGeologicalSurvey, YouTube @USGS, Instagram @USGS, or Twitter @USGS.
Invasive Species Corporation Contacts:
Pam Marrone, Executive Chairperson and Co-Founder
Telephone: +1 (530) 902-1014
Email: Pam@invasivespeciescorporation.com
Jim Boyd
President, CEO and Co-Founder
Telephone: +1 (415) 306-2945
Email: Jim@invasivespeciescorporation.com