The company Lithos Crop Protect in Lower Austria developed an efficient and inexpensive method for pest control against the corn rootworm.

The problem: The Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is spreading throughout Europe – in terms of the economy, it is the most threatening corn pest. The insect lays its eggs in the soil of various crops, including corn. The larvae eat the roots of the corn in the following year, this can kill the plant or lead to considerable yield losses. The resulting damages amount to billions worldwide.

The solution: A subsidiary of the mineral processing company Lithos Natural has developed a technology that disrupts the life cycle of the corn rootworm, preventing it from mating. The technology has its foundations in nature, is harmless to the environment, and has been in a Europe-wide approval process for 3 years.