Commercial Neem Insecticide

Grace Horticultural Products, a unit of Grace Specialty Chemicals (USA), has acquired the rights to a non-toxic, natural insecticide extracted from seeds of the neem tree, (Azadirachta indica) a tropical evergreen. Under a purchase agreement with Vikwood Botanicals of Sheboygan, Wis., Grace acquired all rights, including patents, trademarks, EPA registration, and technology for the product - Margosan-O concentrate. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Grace says that the concentrate has low to no mammalian toxicity and is believed effective against pests that resist many chemical pesticides including the sweet potato white fly, green peach aphid, and western floral thrips.

G & EN 67(6):14