Self Introduction

Name : Bala Suga Vanam (Suga)Profession : Organic Chemist

Experience: 14 years with ICI (UK) now Syngenta on R&D in pesticides

14 years in UNIDO Agrochemicals Development in

developing countries .3 years UNIDO Rep. In China

Presently: Freelance consultant.

International NeemConference.

Kunming, Yunnan, China.Nov.11-15, 2006

Holistic Approach to Neem(azadirachta indica)

Developmentby

B. Sugavanam.

Holistic : Not mentioned in Oxford Dictionary.

Longman Dictionary says: Holistic means

“ concerning the whole of something or someone, not just its parts: eg. holistic medicine “

Holy approach : Religious approach

Negative sense:

Hollow approach: Some countries have neem trees butthey do not put it to any use

Tobacco (Nicotina tabacum)

Derris roots (Derris elliptica)

Pyrithrum (Chrysanthamum cinrariaefolium)

Product Group World market (millions ofdollars)

1991 1996 2001(estimated)

Microbialagents

157 219 318

Nematods 4 30 70

Arthropods 35 47 60

Behaviourmodifyingchemicals

60 89 198

Botanicals 70 81 90

Sub.total 326 457 759Conventionalinsecticides

9,358 9,597 9,212

Botanical Market value Synthetic Market value Side effectsPesticide Analogues

Derris Not in use None --- Fish Toxicity

Nicotine very small Imidacloprid $1-2 billion Not significant

Pyrethrins Small Pyrethroids $ 1-2 billion Fish toxicity, Building up of resistance

Strobilurin None Azoxy strobin/ ~$1 billion Building up ofKresoxim resistance

Neem Small,/ None --- NoneExtracts Fragmented

Table 1: Botanical pesticides that led to synthetic analogues.

•The Past (3000 BC-1900 AD)

•The immediate past ie post war era (1940-970

•The present (1970=2000)

•The future 21st Century

3000BC-1900AD

• Indus Valley civilization (3000-2000BC)– used in beauty /medicinal, religious and

spiritual occasions• Earned the name

– the wonder tree; the village pharmacy ; blessed tree; the miracle tree; the magic tree; the free tree of India .

1940-1970

• India played a crucial role• Most of the R&D took place in India • Emphasis was on academic

research/publications more related terpenes and alkaloids

• No organized efforts to commercialization of neem products

The Present (1970-2000)

• Golden era for neem development • Coordinated research in India and the west• International Neem Conferences • Impact of new synthetic pesticides • Azadirachtin as a lead to break into new simple

molecules were not successful.• Patent problems/no direct kill or curative

activity/formulation stability caused problems

Azadirachtin A(C35H44H16)(16 Stereogenic centres)

Decalin fragment and hydroxy furan acetal functionjoined by a bond C8,C14-bond)

C8-14 (bond)

8 14

Two fragments of azadirachtin

Steve Ley (U.K) 1994

• Prof. T.R.Govindachari from Chennai (Madras) made thebiggest contribution to basic and applied chemistry of neem.He isolated a single crystal azadirachtin A and establishedthe structure

• Prof. H. Schmutterer of Germany internationalized neem byorganizing two International Conferences in Germanyduring 1982 and 1984.

• 1984 publication by Saleem Ahmed entitled Potential ofNeem for Pest Control and Rural Development and in 1986GTZ publication entitled Rural Development and use ofPlant Preparations for Crop and Post-harvest protection,gave international attention to holistic development of neemfor rural benefits.

Important milestones

• GTZ in the 1980s established a neemextraction plant in Burma underinternational development aid.

• Grace and Co , USA took a controversialpatent of Azadirachtin in the USA whichgave good publicity to neem

• In 1985 USDA cleared azadirachtinregistration of neem for selected applicationas class IV pesticide.

• As mentioned above 1994, Prof.Stev Ley ofCambridge University published totalsynthesis of the two parts of Azadirachtin A

• In 1995 State of California approved use ofneem based pesticides on 50ornamental/orchard crops

• Prof. R.C.Saxena and Prof. Salem Ahemeddid good promotional exercises atinternational levels.

Product PriceNeem Toothpaste LowNeem Soap LowNeem Sticks Very low

Neem oil Low to high

Azadirachtin formulation Low to very high

Neem cake fertilizer Low(N2-3%,P 1%,K 1.4%)

Slow release fertlizers Medium

Skin creams/AyurvedicProducts Med.-High

Market for neem products

My association with neem development

• RENPAP• Discussion with Indian Counterparts• Interaction with GTZ• Proposal for China • Visit to Yunnan Province in 1998.

Various uses of neem

insecticidesmedicinefertilizer

tooth paste

Leaves

fire woodcharcoal

constructionhandicraft

wood

Dental care

young branches

reforestationShadehedges

entire tree

honeyhealth food

flowers

insecticide

powder

soapcosmetics

oil lubricantinsecticide

oil

Fertilizer

Oil cake

kernels

seeds Pulp

fruits

Neem Tree

Countries already having neem trees growing in thewild, roadsides, in farmland and gardens :

At Local village level• At local level form a Committee consisting of

Government officials, NGOs and Private parties.• Set up a small area for Neem Theme Park.• Initially start using basic parts of neem tree for

finished products.• Publicise to local people the potential of neem tree.• Have storage facilities for raw materials of neem (

construct storage facilities such that mycotoxins arenot formed especially on the kernels)

• Have good consultation with local Agriculturalofficials

At Provincial level:• Form an advisory committee with technical experts,

NGOs and private parties to advise the Agriculturalministry.

• Select districts where small scale industries could bestarted.

• Take raw materials from the neem theme parks at areasonable price

• Give incentive to entrepreneurs to promote productionand marketing

• Give laboratory facilities for analysis.• Give micro credits at village level to promote neem

industry at basic level• Assist in promotional exercise including environmentally

/economically sustainable neem forestry/industrydevelopment. .

•Establish monitoring measures to see the benefits reach

At Central Government level

• Give necessary financial and technical inputs.

Aid Agencies.

• Provide technical and financial assistance.

• Follow India’s example

• Follow South-South cooperation

Countries where neem plantations could be promoted andsustainable foresting could be done.

• Follow Chinese example• Be prepared for long term project (8-10 years)• Select areas where neem tree could be propagated• Form a multi- disciplinary team to plan and investigate• Start neem nurseries with stakeholders involvement• Get financial and technical assistance from government.,

NGOs and Aid agencies.• Aid Agencies to support long term technical assistance (8-

10 years).• Provide credit facilities to promote small scale industries• Do public promotion exercise.Promote South –South Cooperation

Holistic approach: :Poverty alleviation

IPM/IAP Medicinal/hygiene

More R&D , up-marketing,Socio-Economic-Envt. Impact ,

south-south cooperation

3000BC-1900AD

Indus valley Civilization,

local uses

1940-1970

R&D workin India mainly

academic

21stcentury

1970-2000

The golden era for neem

History and future of neem

Effect of imidacloprid, cyhalothrin,and azadirachtin

on mango (alphanso variety ) hopper

It was found that at high level of infection thesynthetic chemicals did better but at 4%or less

infection azadirachtin( 3,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm)

were as effective as synthetic chemicalsSource: A.Verghese, Int.Symp. On Mango,1998

Buying neem tooth paste in an up-

Buying a bundle of neem sticks

ushing teeth with neem ck

Spraying neem in Thailand

Land slide in Yunnan

Climbing the hill

Mountain trecking inYunnan

Waiting to be picked up

Standing in front of neem trees

Inspecting small trees

Neem tree in front of UNIDO office

Neem trees in Lagos

Neem tree in front of Ghana EPA

ConclusionHolistic neem development has great potential for rural development.

It should be linked to other beneficial crops and agricultural activities (not all eggs in one basket approach)

Azadirachtin formulations/hygiene products will attract share of upmarket products

When it comes to complete cure of plant diseases or kill of insects neem will remain “jack of all trades master of none”