BeesFungiGeneralNews

Ding Dong Monsanto’s Gone

We may finally have a solution to the plant killer Monsanto: MycoPesticide, a super spectacular amazing natural pesticide created, or better said, realized by Paul Stamets. This special man that is king of mushrooms has found a possible way to bring down Monsanto that carelessly tests chemicals on you, me, your children, and the planet!

Paul Stamets should be a household name because he just may have saved all of our lives. He has developed a safe way to protect our ecology while protecting our crops. First off, I might as well disappoint you now, this is a product in development and not currently available. Proper testing is being done and may take time unlike the creeps at Monsanto! I can say testing is promising and showing real results!!

“I love a challenge and saving the Planet seems like a good one.”- Paul Stamets

I will be watching for investment opportunities in this idea. Paul’s MycoPesticide and other patents are sure to be used in every continent in the next 10 years. At least, this is my opinion on the matter.

The proprietary Metarhizium anisopliae spore strain is not currently available for sale. After years of testing, Paul is seeking EPA approval.  This is patent, as well as many other patents from Paul, focus on a natural way to handle many pests that are currently dealt with through synthetic chemicals.

Luckily, Paul Stamets is anti-GMO and is not using any of those gene-splicing procedures. Instead, he is using the same processes many plant breeders use. His way of creating what he needs is like a good old fashioned pairing. He just uses tissue cultures like we can do ourselves at home if we really wanted to.

"We do not wage war against insects. We just want to protect our homes, crops or bees without causing collateral harm to the ecosystem" – Paul Stamets  (Metarhizium Anisopliae infected cockroach.  Photo courtesy of wikimedia)
“We do not wage war against insects. We just want to protect our homes, crops or bees without causing collateral harm to the ecosystem” – Paul Stamets
(Metarhizium Anisopliae infected cockroach. Photo courtesy of wikimedia)

What does the MycoPesticide do?

The Paul Stamets MycoPesticide uses a fungus that produces a chemical attractant in the mycelial state. Some 200,000 pests that damage crops are attracted to the spores which attach to the pests. The spores attached to the pests will now germinate and penetrate the insect: weakening it and eventually killing it.

Not only will the pest die, but before it does, it brings the spores back to its nest and spreads the same destruction onto all his buddies that would eat my peas and kill my honey bees! This may sound brutal, but it’s effective and won’t leach into our water supplies like pesticides do.

This process will not harm us, bees, wildlife, fish, nor non-targeted insects. This won’t even need to be sprayed on crops. Since pests seek this MycoPesticide out, the farmer can really set out food bowls. This can even be hung on feeders that only pests can access, or just sprinkled down rows of plants.

This MycoPesticide is naturally occurring. Paul explains that any farmer with a manure pile may already be growing the mushroom that he is using. What Paul has done is found the most efficient strain from this mushroom, and found a process to weaponize it.

The great news is that if all continues to go well, we can talk farmers into using MycoPesticide over chemical pesticides. This step alone would help our bee population return.

Secondly, honey bees are being attacked by the Varroa mite. This mite can take over a hive and cause disease to our honey maker and pollinator. The great news is Paul really loves his honey! He must because he found another way (which he has patented) to help protect our future. Current testing and approval for a natural way to take out these Varroa mites has been invented by Paul using another mushroom strain.

"Beekeepers have an urgent need for effective, bee-friendly Varroa treatments. Naturally-occurring entomopathogenic fungi could be an effective, biologically-based control method. They are non-toxic to humans and can be mass-cultured,"- Mollah Md. Hamidduzzaman  School of Environmental Sciences (photo courtesy of wikimedia)
“Beekeepers have an urgent need for effective, bee-friendly Varroa treatments. Naturally-occurring entomopathogenic fungi could be an effective, biologically-based control method. They are non-toxic to humans and can be mass-cultured,”- Mollah Md. Hamidduzzaman
School of Environmental Sciences
(photo courtesy of wikimedia)

The future is looking brighter now, and I feel optimistic. Mushrooms, specifically mushroom spores, will be able to help us cure many of the terrible ills caused by man. I wonder if we had not destroyed so many trees and habitats would we have these issues or would mushrooms have been doing this on their own? I bet they would. Nature is always the best custodian and keeps balance.

“If you look on the fungal genome as being soldier candidates protecting the U.S. as our host defense, not only for the ecosystem but for our population… we should be saving our old-growth forests as a matter of national defense.” -Paul Stamets

My only fear is that with this MycoPesticide, mono-crops will continue to get larger. Will Paul’s MycoPesticides eventually create superbugs in the long run, or will they always work? I am hopeful that this is a new path that will bring down Monsanto and its likes down, making the planet a healthier place.

If this works, there is no need for GMO seeds. Farmers wouldn’t need to spend vast amounts of money buying seed every year. We can go back to heirloom seeds that farmers can save. That would undoubtedly drop food prices and illnesses like cancer. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

12 Comments

  1. Can you link to research that shows that this insecticide is completely safe for use around bees? Seems to me, if you’re targeting insects, then bees, being insects, will be attracted to it. Happy for you to prove me wrong.

    [Editor removed]

    1. Monsanto schill, chemical corporation apologist or just plain lazy? Perhaps an attitude check is in order?

      Here we go again, a “show me the science” cynical response. I’ve addressed this whole attitude in my article “Science, Technology and Permaculture – How much do you really need to know?” – https://www.permaculturenews.org/2016/12/16/science-technology-permaculture-much-really-need-know/

      Seriously, If you care for the science,, you know where to find it, and you can find it as easily as I can, this took me 30 seconds, do the rest yourself…

      Thungrabeab M and Tongma S. Effect of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae on non-target insects. J. KMITL. Science Technology. 2007; 7 (51): 8–12.

      https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228475360_Effect_of_Entomopathogenic_Fungi_Beauveria_bassiana_Balsam_and_Metarhizium_anisopliae_Metsch_on_non_Target_Insects

  2. I hope this is thoroughly tested for safety. I’m concerned about weaponization of these spores. As to this eliminating the need for GMOs, I wish that were the case, but the new gene splicing techniques are bringing things that have nothing to do with the ability of the plant to produce biocides or be immune to herbicides (e.g., non-browning apples and mushrooms).

  3. Paul Stamets: Mr. Mushroom too all commoners, please. :) I read his stuff because I enjoy his work. Much thanks for a very good article. I hate Monsanto because they helped kill 9,000 Tarahumara Indians in a planned famine in the 90s. The new media said nothing. Living 2,000 mines away, I would have heard nothing but have family in NW Mexico. I sent what I could to an ex via her brother, and let folks know on the pow wow grapevine, yet so many refused because they were told it wasn’t a problem by politicians. Peace to you, may your good dreams become reality!

  4. You never have a pest problem
    You have a design deficiency problem
    Stop thinking
    ALL insecticides get middle finger from real permies
    With all respect to Paul’s ‘Journeys’
    Dig a swale
    Leave the bees alone
    Take them away from monoculture

    1. Thanks for your comment Mark. Yes, when it comes down to it design is really all thats needed. I wrote about this because society will not leave it’s mono- culture. Monsanto may change it’s name but will never leave go of it’s chemical push.

      I am looking for a “gateway” option for farmers that may be using chemicals into a less lethal option.

      These spores are naturally occurring in a permaculture environment and would be keeping the pest action in control. Since the mono culture exists to feed the city folk it may be a safer option.

      I would love for one of the bee keepers to actually test this on a few hives. I think that first person experience is better than taking Paul’s word for it. Not that I don’t trust Paul he is a good man!

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