ecofective® highlights its bee-friendly plant protection range, ahead of World Bee Day’s focus on helping pollinators

As conservationists prepare to mark World Bee Day on 20th May, an initiative designed to highlight the global decline of vital pollinators, the ecofective® brand of natural plant protection products is revealing how its innovative range can help gardeners to tackle troublesome pests on flowers, fruit and vegetables without posing a risk to bees.

A worldwide decline in bee populations is ringing alarm bells as fears grow over how our food will be pollinated if bees die out. According to the British Beekeepers’ Association, a third of our food is dependent on pollination by bees, with up to 70 crops in the UK relying on bees for successful pollination. However, bee-keepers across Europe have reported winter colony losses in excess of 50% in recent years – a figure that is causing widespread concern among wildlife experts.

With a host of factors blamed for bee decline, including pesticide use, climate change, a parasitic mite called varroa that attacks bee colonies, and habitat loss (the UK has lost more than 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1940s), gardeners are increasingly regarding their plots as a refuge for struggling pollinators, and demanding plant care products that are safe to use around bees.

ecofective® Bug + Mildew Control is proving to be a popular choice. The ready-to-use formula provides fast-acting control of a wide range of pests, including whitefly, blackfly, red spider mite and mealybug, while taking care of powdery mildew by washing away spores. The clever formulation, which is safe to use around bees, pets and children, also provides plants with nutrients for healthy growth, uses a physical mode of action which stops plant pests in their tracks, preventing bugs from moving and being able to feed.

Suitable for edibles and ornamentals, ecofective® Bug + Mildew Control is completely pesticide-free. ecofective®’s Head of Sales, Nigel Thompson, said: “Bee decline and its impact on biodiversity and food security is a major concern. We know that gardeners want to attract more bees into gardens in a bid to safeguard the future of these vital pollinators. Gardeners can be reassured that ecofective® Bug + Mildew Control is safe to use around bees, so flowers, fruit and vegetables can be kept free of pests without posing a risk to wildlife.”

A key advantage of ecofective® Bug + Mildew Control’s physical mode of action is that plant pests will not become resistant to the formula. No harvest interval is required, meaning that home-grown produce can be eaten within hours of application.

Gardeners can also use ecofective® Rose Defender to protect the nation’s favourite flower from attack without any worries about harming bees. The ready-to-use product’s 3-in-1 defender technology controls bugs, powdery mildew and provides nutrients for vibrant, healthy roses, while the pesticide-free formulation is safe to use around bees, children and pets.

ecofective® Houseplant Defender, which is perfect for indoor plants but can also be used on flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables in the garden, is another bee-friendly product in the ecofective stable that’s safe to use around bees. The ready-to-use pesticide-free spray gives excellent control of pests including whitefly, aphid, red spider mite, mealybug, scale and psyllid, while the formula provides foliar nourishment to encourage healthy, vibrant houseplants. It stimulates the development of more flowers, too.

Find out more

To find out more about the full ecofective® range from Sipcam visit www.ecofective.uk.com.

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For more information, interviews or images please contact the Sipcam UK PR Team:

Kimberley Hornby, Tel: 07851 610573, Email: kimberley@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

Marc Rosenberg, Tel: 07931 645170, Email: marc@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

About Sipcam UK & ecofective®

ecofective® is part of the Sipcam Group, one of the world’s top 20 agricultural suppliers and the only Italian company in the business of global crop protection. The family-owned group - with an annual turnover in excess of €500million - has a very impressive research and development capability, and through collaborations with universities and specialist research facilities is pioneering bio-technology to produce market leading control products, nutrients and bio-stimulants which will be key for the future of food production as conventional chemical technology becomes less available.

Sipcam is now in the exciting process of making the best of its professional technology available to the amateur gardener. It has much to offer today, and with an exciting pipeline of product developments still to come will be a key part of the EU retail marketplace moving forward.

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Editors notes

Comprising a uniquely collaborative network of senior PR professionals based at offices around England, Hornby Whitefoot PR has helped a wide range of companies and brands to communicate their news, build business and reposition their reputations since 2015. From strategy to tactics, project management to copy-writing, Hornby Whitefoot PR offers flexible, proactive public relations expertise, founded on real business and marcomms understanding. And our ‘open book’, annual budget or project-based approach – with no murky retainers to hide behind – means you can trust us to make your money go further. Specialisms include the garden, home and lifestyle sector, and the automotive aftermarket industry.