SCU scientist helps develop new termite control product
By Chiara Macfarlane
SCOURGE OF HOMEOWNERS: Termites cause an annual damage bill estimated at more than $900 million in Australia alone.
A SOUTHERN Cross University scientist has helped develop a new natural termite control product that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Within Australia alone, termites invade more than 650,000 homes each year, creating an annual repair bill topping $910 million.
Now, Brisbane-based company BioProspect, with the help of SCU science Associate Professor David Leach, has found a natural solution to traditional chemical treatments.
BioProspect has discovered a naturally-occurring termite-resistant oil found in the Eremophila mitchelli tree, also known as the false sandalwood or buddha, which is a native bush found throughout rural Australia.
The discovery of the oil follows the amazing find of a 100-year-old fence post in rural Australia, which had withstood decades of harsh conditions and proved resistant to termite invasion.
The company used the expertise of oil extraction professionals and independent research bodies to produce their product, Termilone, which recently passed all testing procedures to be registered with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
Prof Leach, who spent 20 years as a phytochemist, was instrumental in developing the Termilone range.
"This is a great application of a natural product," he said.
Prof Leach hopes to see Termilone used as an alternative to chemical treatments.
He became interested in natural botanical applications while in Papua New Guinea in the 1980s, moving to the Northern Rivers in 1996 to start the university's Australian Tea Tree Essential Oil department.
BioProspect's acting chief executive Peter May said the company had developed a world first that would be popular in the lucrative US and Japanese termite control markets.
"These markets each exceed $US1 billion a year, with a strong demand for products with low human and environmental toxicity profiles," he said.
BioProspect has already successfully developed a range of bioeffectives products in the animal health, nutrition and veterinary medicines markets.
