GERMANY
A research team from the Technical University of Munich has created a biodegradable, non-toxic, and environmentally-friendly insect repellent that can be sprayed directly onto crops of all types.
Led by Professor Thomas Brück, the researchers isolated the sections of the tobacco plant genome responsible for the formation of cembratrienol (CBTol) molecules and then incorporated those into the genome of genetically-modified E. coli bacteria. When fed with wheat bran (obtained as a byproduct from grain mills), those bacteria subsequently produced CBTol. Bugs are repelled by the odor of CBTol, and as a result, tend to stay away.
The repellent also kills several types of gram-positive bacteria that are harmful to humans.