Dave Mueller (BS '75) and Purdue Receive Insect Biosensors Research Grant

PCT Online
April 28, 2008

Dave Mueller, president of Insects Limited

WESTFIELD, Ind. — Insects Limited, in partnership with Purdue University, received a Small Business Initiative Research grant (SBIR) from the state of Indiana and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for work in the area of insect biosensors. This is one of only four state and federal SBIR grants awarded in Indiana this year. The grants totaled $160,000.

Dave Mueller, president of Insects Limited, said, "We are excited to work with Purdue on this new Insect BioSensor project. This new technology has the potential to change how our industry evaluates their treatment of traditional and organic food products throughout the world. It could reduce the total amount of pesticides used on our food products."

A biosensor is a way to use live insect eggs to determine when the treatment is complete by measuring the oxygen produced. When the eggs stop using oxygen, the biosensor technology will determine that the treatment is complete. This method has the potential of reducing the amount of pesticides used in post harvest agriculture treatments. Insects Limited will make an application for the phase two SBIR grant in 2009.