Keyplex – The Leader in Biopesticide Solutions
Keyplex has a long history of developing innovative and effective biological products, and the company’s commitment to these “green” chemistries took hold years ago when it recognized the growing global need for effective insecticides, fungicides and other pest control products that did their job with little to no environmental impact. Through extensive research and product testing, the company identified a synergistic blend of plant oils that would control target pests while also managing or preventing resistance within the pests. (This issue of resistance management is especially relevant in the face of the Zika virus outbreak given how the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the disease has demonstrated resistance to many traditional insecticides.) Today, Keyplex offers a wide range of botanical oil-based products that have been proven effective against a broad spectrum of public health pests, such as ticks and mosquitos, and products like these are a big reason for the widespread adoption of botanical products.
In addition to offering quick knockdown or control of the pest, these products offer extended protection by decimating the insect population and breaking the lifecycle.
Keyplex expanded its product portfolio as well as its development resources with the acquisition of EcoSMART in 2014. EcoSMART was founded in the early 1990s to develop safe pesticide alternatives for agricultural, commercial and residential use, and the company’s expertise was evident as it developed these effective products. In particular, the company pioneered work on octopamine in addition to other innovative research on botanical chemistries.
Today, the company’s product development efforts are led by a scientific advisory panel that is chaired by Steven Bessette, a vice president at Keyplex.
EcoSMART was founded in the early 1990s to develop safe pesticide alternatives for agricultural, commercial and residential use, and the company’s expertise was evident as it developed these effective products. In particular, the company pioneered work on octopamine in addition to other innovative research on botanical chemistries.
Groundbreaking Science
Resistances to synthetic pyrethriods
During a 3 year DOD study the company identified a synergistic blend of plant oils that would control and target resistance (Puerto Rican strain) of adult mosquitos (This issue of resistance management is especially relevant in the face of the Zika virus outbreak given how the aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the disease has demonstrated resistance to many traditional insecticides.)
Committed to green chemistry Research
The company’s commitment to these “green” chemistries and the reorganization of the growing global need for effective insecticides, fungicides and other pest control products that do their job with little to no environmental impact. To continue this commitment today, the company’s product development efforts are led by a scientific advisory panel.
Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Team Members
SAP is comprised of industry-leading experts in natural products with diverse backgrounds in entomology, toxicology, biology, chemistry.
Steve Bessette, J.D., CPA
Committee Chairman
- Founded SAP in 1996
- Currently Senior Vice-President of KeyPlex, IP consultant to EcoSMART
- Practiced private law and is a member of the Florida Bar
- J.D. from Boston University
- B.S. in Accounting from University of Rhode Island
Murray Isman, Ph.D.
Agricultural Entomology
- Dean of the College of Land and Food Systems at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver
- Professor of Entomology and Toxicology
- Recipient of the C. Gordon Hewitt Award from the Entomological Society of Canada
- Doctorate from the University of California at Davis
Joel Coats, Ph.D.
Basic Research
- Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor
- Serves as the Chair of Insecticide Toxicology and Environmental Toxicology at Iowa State University
- Published over 120 articles and edited a textbook on insecticide toxicology
- Ph.D. from University of Illinois
- B.S. from Arizona State University
David Lindsay, Ph.D.
AG / Formulation
- Manager of Applied Research with Evonik Goldschmidt Chemical Corporation
- Served as Vice President of Research and co-owner of Formulogics
- B.A. and M.A. from Rutgers University
- Ph.D. from Clarkson University
Rod Bradbury
Formulation/Analytical
- More than 20 years experience in formulation and product development chemistry in the pesticide industry
- Holder of numerous patents and has also published numerous articles
- B.Sc. (Honors) from the University of Manchester
Due to the endeavors of the SAP team, Keyplex now offers globally a wide range of botanical oil-based insecticides, fungicides and vector control products.