by Elijah Daniel Espiritu
In the onset of modern agricultural challenges, where crop and environmental health impact balances itself on a tightrope, an innovative solution presents itself. WiltCure Biopesticide, the brainchild of Dr. Eufrocinio Dela Cruz Marfori, a career scientist from BIOTECH (UPLB), presents an environmentally friendly, organic, and sustainable solution to the agrarian concern of constant wilting of solanaceous crops due to a disease caused by the organism “Fusarium oxysporum”.
At present, the widely accepted solution for the Fusarium wilt involves heavy usage of synthetic chemicals that harm the environment, the farmers, and the plant consumers. However, Fusarium oxysporum has been observed to develop resistance against these synthetic chemicals rendering usual chemical pesticides ineffective due to constant exposure.
Wiltcure leverages organic materials to minimize crop and environmental impacts. Additionally, it prevents resistance in target organisms by ensuring the active ingredients are produced only during an actual attack.
Wilcure biopesticide is recommended to be used solely for solanaceous crops which include tomatoes, eggplants, and chili peppers. It is envisioned that the product will develop more sustainable agricultural solutions for a wide array of crops in the future.
A sustainable solution
Conventional methods often rely heavily on chemical pesticides that pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health when dealing with pests and agrarian diseases. This hazardous cycle of reliance on chemicals led Dr. Marfori to work tirelessly seeking bio-based solutions as effective alternatives.
“... the need for a solution to problems confronting food production and security, the need for [a] solution that is not hazardous to our farmers and to our environment.”
- Dr. Eufrocinio Dela Cruz Marfori, On the inspiration for Wiltcure
WiltCure represents a pivotal advancement in biological control. Unlike its chemical counterparts, which directly kill or inactivate pathogens, Wiltcure’s formulation harnesses the power of nature itself. Its active ingredients are derived from naturally occurring microorganisms carefully selected for their ability to target specific pathogens responsible for wilt diseases in plants.
The Science Behind the Solution
As established, WiltCure leverages the symbiotic relationship between plants and beneficial microbes. By introducing these specialized microorganisms, WiltCure enhances the natural defenses of crops against wilt-causing pathogens. This biological approach not only mitigates disease but also fosters higher and healthier crop yields.
Dr. Marfori explains that Wiltcure uses a combination of a potato plant callus and a microbe that can self-reproduce which adds to its sustainability. With it only activating during actual pathogen attacks, it mitigates Fusarium wilt’s ability to develop resistance against it.
He added that “The active compounds of WiltCure are also produced by the co-culture of a plant callus and a microbe, i.e. they are natural and biodegradable, hence eco-friendly”.
Although WiltCure is natural and biodegradable, its development prioritizes environment-friendly applications, leading it to possess non-persistence properties that wither the biopesticide not long after its application. This property increases its safety for the environment, farmers, and crops.
Success stories
Wiltcure has undergone pilot field testing alongside synthetic chemicals, and Biospark (biopesticide) in Nueva Ecija and Batangas, Philippines with results of the biopesticides positively affecting the overall crop yields. Wiltcure showed the highest yield per hectare among the participating products.
Ms. Divina Lachica, a farmer from Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and a member of the Sto. Tomas Organic Practitioners’ Association, Inc. (STOPA) was one of the participating farmers in the pilot testing. At 120 days after transplanting (DAT), Fusarium wilt incidence on Mrs. Lachica's farm was 40.6% in the untreated control group, 26.9% in the positive control (Biospark), and just 7.5% in plants treated with WiltCure. Mrs. Lachica noted that WiltCure was the most effective treatment.
Financially, the total production cost without fungicide was P45,300, yielding 109.4 kg/ha and a gross income of P65,640 (P20,340 net income). Using Biospark, the production cost rose to P60,300, yielding 336.5 kg/ha and a gross income of P201,900 (P141,600 net income). WiltCure's costs were P55,300, yielding 586.3 kg/ha and a gross income of P351,780 (P296,480 net income).
Mrs. Lachica attributed the higher net income from WiltCure to its superior effectiveness in controlling Fusarium wilt and boosting yield.
Wiltcure, as a novel biocontrol agent, has also been regarded with multiple awards, with the product being the recipient of the 2017 Invention Disclosure Incentive award by the UPLB CTTE, and the 2017 Invention Disclosure Award by the University of the Philippines system.
Beyond the Horizon: Challenges and Opportunities
Despite its promising outlook, Dr. Marfori shared the incomplete journey of Wiltcure lacking registration from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) resulting in the insufficiency for full commercialization. Although pilot testing has already been performed with PCAARRD-DOST, FPA registration requires the expensive process of the product’s field testing by an FPA-accredited researcher.
Dr. Marfori emphasized that they are considering any potential partnerships or collaborations in the private sector that are interested in obtaining a license to produce and distribute Wiltcure biopesticide.
With growing support from Philippine government agencies, Wiltcure is set to showcase at the upcoming WorldInvent Singapore 2024.
Dr. Marfori highlights the importance of local innovation and invention internationalization “It is important for Filipino inventions to participate in international expositions… This is also an opportunity for us to conduct some sort of benchmarking of our local inventions viz-a-viz inventions from other countries.”
He added that the government support in funding and organizing business fora to connect potential investors, collaborators, inventors, and innovators with each other played an extensive role in the development of Wiltcure.
“First, they gave an opportunity for inventors like me to showcase our invention internationally. Second, they also enabled inventors like me to meet foreign inventors and to learn from them.”
-Dr. Eufrocinio Dela Cruz Marfori, On the government support for Wiltcure
Creating a better tomorrow: The future of Wiltcure
In a world where food security and environmental degradation share the same level of burden, WiltCure Biopesticide emerges as a testament to human ingenuity and ecological stewardship. Its blend of scientific excellence, environmental responsibility, and tangible benefits for farmers underscores a paradigm shift toward sustainable agriculture.
As we look towards the horizon, the story of WiltCure Biopesticide reminds us that innovation, guided by a deep respect for nature, holds the key to a future where food production meets the needs of a growing global population without compromising the health of our planet and its inhabitants.
Dr. Marfori hopes to continue his legacy by instilling his vision upon his junior research associates through mentorship similar to how he was mentored before.
“Now I am mentoring my junior research associates. I am shaping their minds to continue improving or innovating something useful for the people. I think that is my legacy. In the future after my retirement, I know I have instilled in the minds of these future innovators what an inventor or researcher should do for the future of innovation in this country.”
He added that his idea of success lies in his contentment and happiness in his personal and professional life, which is achieved by getting the work done and garnering well-deserved recognition and respect from the scientific community for his contributions.
Dr. Marfori ends with his hopes for Filipinos worldwide to support local inventions and inventors, to encourage and foster an attitude of creating and improving ideas for the science community of the Philippines.
With each spray and each harvest, WiltCure Biopesticide not only protects plants but also cultivates hope—for a greener, healthier tomorrow.
