1. What it is & how it works
Q1: What is the Pangaea Booster™ and what does it do?
Pangaea Booster™ is a patented tank mix adjuvant that restores and enhances the efficacy of authorised plant protection products against resistant pest populations - it works by disabling the key metabolic resistance mechanism that allows many insects to break down insecticides before they can take effect.
Q2: How does Pangaea Booster™ overcome resistance?
Pangaea Booster™ contains piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a well-established synergist that temporarily inhibits the cytochrome P450 enzyme system - the primary metabolic mechanism through which resistant insects detoxify insecticides - making the partner plant protection product significantly more effective.
Q3: Is piperonyl butoxide (PBO) a new technology?
No - PBO has been used in pest management for decades and is one of the most thoroughly studied synergists in agricultural and public health use, but Pangaea Booster™ brings this proven active ingredient together with patented delivery technology specifically designed for professional horticultural and agricultural application.
2. Approved use & the edible crops rate rule
Q4: Which crops and situations can Pangaea Booster™ be used on?
Pangaea Booster™ can be used on all non-edible crops at full plant protection product rate, on all edible crops at half rate or less of the partner product, and on a list of named edible crops up to specific growth stages at full rate - always at a maximum adjuvant concentration of 0.2% spray solution and a maximum dose of 300 ml/ha.
Q5: Why does the plant protection product rate have to be halved on edible crops?
The half-rate restriction on edible crops reflects the regulatory conditions under which Pangaea Booster™ was authorised - because PBO enhances the efficacy of the partner product, the overall pesticide load on the crop must remain within safe limits, which the label achieves by requiring a reduced partner rate.
3. Application & mixing
Q6: What is the correct application rate for Pangaea Booster™?
Pangaea Booster™ is applied at a maximum concentration of 0.2% spray solution and a maximum dose of 300 ml/ha - the actual volume per 100 litres reduces as water volume increases, and the label provides a dose table to guide this calculation.
Q7: How do I mix Pangaea Booster™ correctly in the spray tank?
Half-fill the spray tank with clean water, add Pangaea Booster™ first with agitation running, then add and disperse the plant protection product, top up to the final volume, and continue agitating throughout - do not mix with any fertiliser products.
4. Resistance management & IPM
Q8: Which resistance mechanisms does Pangaea Booster™ address?
Pangaea Booster™ specifically targets metabolic resistance mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes - one of the most widespread and commercially damaging forms of insecticide resistance affecting UK horticulture and agriculture.
Q9: How does Pangaea Booster™ fit within an IPM programme?
Pangaea Booster™ is most valuable in an IPM programme as a targeted tool for restoring efficacy when resistance is confirmed or suspected - it is not a substitute for a sound resistance management strategy, but can extend the useful life of existing chemistries and reduce the pressure to increase doses.
5. Safety, storage & handling?
Q10: What are the hazard classifications for Pangaea Booster™?
Pangaea Booster™ carries a DANGER signal word under CLP - it causes serious eye damage and is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects - and must be handled with appropriate PPE, with particular care taken to avoid release to the environment.
Q11: What PPE is required when handling Pangaea Booster™?
Operators must wear coveralls, suitable protective gloves, and face protection (face shield and/or goggles) when handling the concentrate - and must follow whichever PPE requirement is higher when this differs from the partner plant protection product label.
Q12: How should Pangaea Booster™ be stored, and how is the container disposed of?
Store in the original tightly closed container in a cool, dry place, protected from frost - and rinse the container thoroughly using a pressure rinsing device or manually three times before disposal.
6. Commercial & practical
Q13: What problems is Pangaea Booster™ particularly well-suited to solving?
Pangaea Booster™ is most valuable when a grower is facing confirmed or suspected insecticide resistance - where applications are failing to deliver expected control despite correct timing and application technique, and where the pest population has been exposed to the same chemistry repeatedly.
Q14: Why is Pangaea Booster™ only available through Fargro, and what support do we offer?
Fargro is the exclusive UK supplier of Pangaea Booster™ - giving our technical team direct access to Pangaea Biosciences’ expertise on resistance diagnosis and programme design, so we can help you get the most from the product in your specific crop and pest situation.
