A Turkish start-up looking for distributors for its novel Turkish diatomaceous earth formulation as natural insecticide and acaricide for external parasites (Mites, Ticks, Lice, Fleas) on pet and livestock animals

A Turkish R&D company, established in 2018 in Technopark of Tekirdag Namık Kemal University, is a company involved in the research and development activities to promote plant protection and biocidal products, post-harvest food processing and storage technologies. The company has developed a novel and natural diatomaceous earth formulation in micronized form. It is composed by the mixtures of three freshwater diatomaceous earths with different diatom structures (pore and shape) and contains natural amorphous silica (SiO2). This formulation which has a high repellent and toxic effects on external parasites (mites, ticks, lice, fleas etc.) in pet and livestock animals and can be used as a dust or sprayed as a wettable powder for the control of external parasites (mites, ticks, lice, fleas etc.) in pet and livestock animals. It provides long-term protection of pet and livestock animals against external parasites (mites, ticks, lice, fleas etc.). Newly developed diatomaceous earth formulation is non- toxic to mammals (rat oral LD50>5000 mg/kg of body weight), leave no toxic residues on the products. It is also used as food or feed additives since it is classified in the category of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) according to the US EPA. It has no chemical mechanism of action on insects and kills the insects and mites physically. Micronize diatomaceous earth dust adheres to the insect and mite body and damages the protective waxy layer of the insect cuticle by sorption, and to a lesser degree by abrasion. The result is loss of water from insect and mite body resulting in death. It is also proven to repel the insects and mites. Newly developed diatomaceous earth formulation consists of 82.2% amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2) and its median particle diameter (d (0.5)) is 14.088 µm. Its average loose and tapped bulk density is 223.9 and 294.2 g/L, respectively. When analyzing scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of Turkish Diatomaceous Earth formulation, it consists of a large number of cylindrical- and ellipse-shape diatom skeletons. The company wants to expand internationally and to enter new markets with the help of foreign partners. The company believes that the product will address the European market better and rely on its success. The company is looking for representatives/distributors, commercial agents, dealers active under distribution services agreements or commercial agency agreements, to expand its products to European countries as a first step. The envisaged partners should have an own sales force and should be well established in biocidal and veterinary sector in its country.