Mother and son to take nanotechnology to the US

Sep 10 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

THE fertile lands of California, which deliver almost half of the food produced in the US, could soon be protected by technology developed by a North East family.

Mother and son team Sylvia and Dr Andrew Dean are preparing to launch their own business on Teesside, which will harness nanotechnology to make crop-protection more effective.

The pair, who are both Teesside University graduates, aim to launch Nano AgricoChemicals in the next month and are already in talks with several agricultural businesses in California.

The products use nanotechnology to protect crops from a wider range of disease-causing agents and soil contaminants.

And, since the products are more effective than traditional formulas, they can be used in smaller quantities and less frequently, cutting fuel emissions from agricultural vehicles.

California is responsible for 40% of food production in the US, and supplies the world with a vast array of fruits and vegetables.

However, because so many chemicals have been used on its huge farms to increase food production, insects are fast becoming resistant to normal insecticides.

The Deans are planning on outsourcing manufacturing duties to a company in California as their company looks to target a market which, in the Sunshine State alone, is said to be worth more than £4bn.

Meanwhile, the company aims to expand its product development headquarters, based at Teesside University’s Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI), with the ultimate aim of employing up to 10 people.

Dr Dean said the company chose to initially focus on California because of the sheer size of the US market, although he maintains that the firm is still keen to win commercial contracts in the UK. He said: “We are looking using nanotechnology to develop products which can offer better crop protection from a wide range of pathogens and soil contaminants and enhance the health and well-being of crops through improved nutrient and trace mineral uptake.

“Working with the IDI has been a huge benefit to the project and has enabled us to design optimal synthesis mechanisms that we believe will significantly increase the activity of these products and cut down laboratory testing times and costs.”

Dr Dean’s PhD at Teesside University was based around research into sensors which can detect DNA and followed a Masters degree in biotechnology. After graduating, he set up his first company, Spartan Nano, with Sylvia, which won the Tees Valley heat of Blueprint business award and has been shortlisted for the regional finals in Gateshead next month.

Ms Dean – who looks after business-related matters, while her son manages all things scientific – also studied at Teesside University and is currently enrolled on a masters course.