Protecting stored grains against pests using a new silica technology – understanding distribution and extension pathways

Summary of outcomes to date

2020–21

• The development of a technology using synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) for the control of insect pests in storage has progressed.
• Scheduled in-country activities in Tanzania have been disrupted by COVID but the project was adapted and was still able to demonstrate control of a range of insect pests relevant to commodity storage in Tanzania.
• A prototype application device has been completed with key design functions informed by prior in-country staff input, such as the ability of the device to be self-reliant for power.
• The device has completed initial field-testing in Australia and is now ready for shipment to Tanzania.
• It was intended that the application device would form the basis of a demonstration-based activity including in-country consultation to understand preliminary costings and explore potential distribution and service delivery models for the new technology.
• As in-country visits are not possible a local, ACIAR-endorsed consultant was subcontracted to carry out the in-country interviews and using the information Davren provided to him, he has prepared business cases for the two identified commercialisation models.

Project outcomes

• Determining the target range of storage insect pests for which SAS may provide control.
• Exploring and demonstrating how the principles, present in the current SAS prototype application machines developed by Davren Global, may be re-engineered to be relevant in Tanzania.
• Undertaking a community consultation process through small landholder focus groups to inform both the development and in-country testing an application device for small landholders and exploring issues around distribution / service delivery models for the new technology.
• Bringing together the new knowledge and learnings in the form of a draft business plan to inform future distribution, support and financing of the technology.