Foresight Science & Technology Inc

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. This Project Will Test and Prove the Efficacy of an Entirely New Method of Controlling Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) Using a Usda Developed and Patented Peptides as the Active Ingredient for a New Bait Formulation. the Technology Utilizes Novel Bioactive Peptides That Act as Antagonists to the Rifa Neurohormone Receptor Found in All Fire Ant Life Stages. the Technology Also Known as Receptor-i Technology Was Invented by Usda Scientists, DR. Robert Vander Meer and DR. Man-yeon Choi and Patented by the Usda. the Phase I Research Showed Promising Results as a Proof of Concept for the Technology. the Project Has Been Developed as a Continuation of the Previous Basic and Applied Research Performed at Usda-ars That Resulted in the Issuance of Two Patents: a) a) Us Patent 9,771,393 B2. Bioactive Peptides Having Insecticide Activity, Choi and Vander Meer, Issued Sep. 26, 2017; and B) Us Patent 10,017,538. Bioactive Peptides Having Insecticide Activity, Choi and Vander Meer, Issued Jul. 10, 2018); and PCT WO2016/0262388 A1 and Wo 2018/0086790 A1. the Phase Ii Sbir Grant Will Further Develop the Bait Formulation and Delivery Mechanism, Which Will Then Be Tested in Field Trials. the Goal Will Be to Demonstrate a Prototype Bait Formulation With Sufficient Technology Readiness Level to Engage in Licensing Discussions With Major Manufacturers. the Peptide Bait Formulation Is Biodegradable and Species Specific, Making It an Environmentally Neutral Alternative to Chemical Pesticides.