he Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) continues to pose a serious threat to agriculture, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This invasive pest, originally from the Americas, has rapidly spread across the African continent, causing devastating losses—especially to maize, a staple crop critical for food security.
In Zambia, where maize is cultivated on over 1.4 million hectares, repeated infestations have severely impacted production. The 2023/2024 season recorded the country’s lowest maize yield in 16 years, with over 279,000 farms affected and approximately 222,586 hectares damaged.
To combat this crisis, M2i Group, Europe’s leader in biocontrol solutions, has introduced Frugiperda Pro Press+®, an innovative and environmentally friendly response to the Fall Armyworm. This cutting-edge solution utilizes mating disruption—a pheromone-based technique that interferes with the pest’s reproductive cycle, significantly reducing its population over time without harming non-target species.
Unlike broad-spectrum insecticides, M2i’s biocontrol method is selective, non-toxic, and organic-certified, preserving beneficial insects and pollinators vital to healthy agro-ecosystems. Tailored to Zambia’s specific climatic and agronomic conditions, the solution is user-friendly and easily adoptable by local farmers.
Frugiperda Pro Press+® is available in two formats to accommodate diverse farming needs:
- Sprayable formulation for wide-area, mechanized application
- Manual gel applicator for targeted treatment in smaller or non-mechanized plots
Whether used as a standalone under moderate pest pressure or integrated with conventional insecticides, this solution enhances overall efficacy while mitigating resistance development.
Following its official registration in Zambia in late 2024, Frugiperda Pro Press+® is now locally distributed by Bancella Ltd. The product is also slated for registration and distribution in Brazil, South Africa, and Zimbabwe by Q2 2025.
This launch marks a major step in sustainable pest management and reinforces M2i Group’s mission to deliver effective, nature-based solutions for global agricultural resilience.
About Mating Disruption:
Pheromones are natural chemicals insects use for communication. M2i replicates these scents using biomimetic processes and disperses them in treated fields. This confuses male pests, preventing them from locating mates—thereby halting reproduction and reducing infestation naturally. This organic-certified method ensures full-season protection without reliance on harmful chemicals.
