Good food is fundamental to good living. Food nourishes us in so many ways, fueling our bodies and connecting us to one another. Because food is so central to how we live, people around the world want – and need – quality, healthy food that’s responsibly grown, readily available, and affordable year-round. Every year, demand increases. And every year, as much as 40 percent of our food supply is lost to pests.
Whether it’s organic, non-organic, local or imported, farmers are on the front lines of producing the food to meet this demand, fighting to keep threats like pests at bay while maintaining a delicate environmental balance in the field.
Corteva Agriscience supports farmers in that fight with important discoveries, including innovations that led to the development of Qalcova™ active (spinosad) and Jemvelva™ active (spinetoram), two EPA Green Chemistry Award-winning active ingredients made from naturally occurring soil bacteria. In more than 100 countries, Qalcova and Jemvelva protect more than 250 crops, including the fruits and vegetables we all count on to add nutrition and variety to our plates.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) helps farmers make effective decisions to protect their crops and preserve the environment.
Both molecules are made from fermenting the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. In 1988, this process produced Qalcova™ active (spinosad), the first commercial spinosyn. A decade later, scientists discovered they could improve on this class of chemistry through subtle yet sophisticated chemical modifications. The result was Jemvelva™ active (spinetoram), which maintains the favorable environmental properties of Qalcova, but works faster, lasts longer, is more effective at lower use rates and controls more pests.
The active ingredients in both Qalcova and Jemvelva have received multiple recognitions, including EPA Green Chemistry Awards for products that reduce negative impacts on the environment. Because of its natural origin, certain products containing Qalcova can be certified for organic production, pending local regulation. With excellent performance in the field and favorable environmental profiles, global demand for Qalcova and Jemvelva is growing and both products continue to receive prestigious awards for their contributions to agriculture.
Qalcova and Jemvelva are ideal for use in IPM programs and can be rotated with any other group of insecticides. Qalcova and Jemvelva are sole members of the IRAC Group 5 mode of action classification and have no known cross-resistance with other groups of insecticides. Both active ingredients control damaging pests, including a range of lepidopteran species and thrips, with safety for most beneficial insects. In many countries, Qalcova, the #1 organic insecticide in the world, provides an organic option for control of these pests.
Watch this video to learn why Jemvelva has received global recognition for its contribution to sustainable crop protection.
Qalcova™ active (spinosad) and Jemvelva™ active (spinetoram) give farmers solutions for destructive pests while helping them responsibly produce an abundant, high quality and nutritious food supply.
The development of Qalcova™ active (spinosad) back in 1988, and subsequently, Jemvelva™ active (spinetoram), are just two examples of our commitment to investing in active ingredients with favorable environmental profiles to improve on-farm productivity and help meet consumer needs. Farmers have to control destructive insects in their crops, and products like Qalcova and Jemvelva give them options for protecting our food while minimizing impacts on the environment.
Our Innovation
Qalcova and Jemvelva have many characteristics that contribute to Corteva’s commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture.
