Oilseed rape is attracting renewed interest from growers across the UK and Europe, driven by improved economics, rotational benefits and stronger recent crop performance. But despite signs of a comeback, one challenge continues to cast a shadow over the crop’s future: cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB).
Since the withdrawal of neonicotinoid seed treatments in 2013, growers have become increasingly reliant on foliar insecticides to protect young crops during establishment. At the same time, resistance concerns and a shrinking crop protection toolbox have made consistent control more difficult to achieve.
New trial findings released by Ag Novachem suggest a potential way to improve the performance of existing chemistry.
Major uplift in pyrethroid efficacy
The company has published research showing that Pangaea Booster™, a patented adjuvant technology developed by Pangaea Biosciences, significantly increased the effectiveness of commonly used insecticides against several major oilseed rape pests.
Laboratory trials against CSFB found that pyrethroids applied alone delivered inconsistent results. Cypermethrin achieved between 20% and 60% mortality, while deltamethrin delivered between 40% and 80%, depending on the pest population tested.
When combined with Pangaea Booster™, performance improved markedly. Cypermethrin plus Booster delivered 90% to 100% mortality, while deltamethrin plus Booster achieved 95% to 100%.
According to the report, the addition of Booster “dramatically increased efficacy” across all tested CSFB populations, suggesting it may help overcome metabolic resistance mechanisms that can reduce pyrethroid performance.
Commercial success in Czechia
The findings mirror commercial experience in Czechia, where Ag Novachem has been distributing Booster to oilseed rape growers facing significant CSFB pressure.
Founder Jan Hrbáček said pyrethroid performance had been declining before the introduction of Booster.
“We could see that the efficacy of pyrethroids was falling, particularly in oilseed rape,” he said. “It was clear that resistance had become a major issue and that farmers needed a way to bring performance back into their programmes.”
After beginning trials in 2021 and launching commercial sales in 2022, Mr Hrbáček said growers had reported consistently stronger results.
“In the laboratory, we saw 100% efficacy, and in the field we are consistently seeing at least 80% efficacy,” he said. “Before Booster, performance was often below 50%.”
Ag Novachem said it treated around 50% of the Czech oilseed rape market during spring 2026 for pollen beetle control and expects to repeat that market share during the coming autumn season.
Benefits beyond flea beetle
The trial programme also examined cabbage stem weevil and cabbage root fly.
Against cabbage stem weevil, cypermethrin alone delivered 45% to 70% mortality and deltamethrin 55% to 80%. When combined with Pangaea Booster™, efficacy generally increased to between 95% and 100%.
Chlorantraniliprole achieved 50% to 60% mortality on its own, rising to 90% to 95% when used alongside Booster.
Field trials against cabbage root fly also produced encouraging results. While cypermethrin and deltamethrin applied alone provided only partial protection nine days after treatment, the addition of Pangaea Booster™ halved levels of crop damage.
‘Helping existing chemistry work harder’
Nick Gooch, CEO of Pangaea Biosciences, said the findings come at a critical time for the sector.
“Oilseed rape is coming back into focus for many growers, but cabbage stem flea beetle remains a major reason why some still lack confidence in the crop,” he said.
“These latest results are important because they show there is a practical way to improve the performance of the chemistry still available. Booster is designed to help existing insecticides work harder in resistance situations, rather than simply asking growers to spray more.”
Roger Pinder, global business development consultant at Pangaea Biosciences, argued the data highlights the need for greater focus on resistance management across the crop protection industry.
“The OSR market needs confidence,” he said. “Growers need reliable options that help protect the crop without simply pushing them into more applications, higher costs and greater pressure on the farm system.”
