[Product of the Month] Eco-friendly compound agent that controlled 91.1% of tobacco whiteflies…ShareGreen ‘SG10’

The tobacco whitefly is known in the field as a pest that does not die even when pesticides are applied. Its development period is short, allowing more than ten generations in a year, and because greenhouse facilities maintain a minimum nighttime temperature of 13℃ or higher even in winter for crop management, it can effectively reproduce year-round. Another factor that makes control difficult is that resistant populations quickly become established on farms that repeatedly spray agents from the same class.

Resistance soon leads to problems with the number of spray applications and costs. When efficacy declines, farmers shorten spraying intervals and increase application volumes. That increases both residue risks and the burden of chemical costs and labor expenses. The practice of separately diluting fungicides and insecticides and spraying twice also raises costs. For farms targeting exports, the situation is even more urgent because detection of pesticide residues directly leads to customs rejection.

‘SG10,’ launched by agricultural corporation ShareGreen Co., Ltd. (CEO Yoon-kyung Seo), is a natural plant extract-based combined insecticidal and fungicidal agent aimed at this issue. The product is listed by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service as an organic agricultural input for pest and disease management (Listing No. 2-6-128).

The company explains that it works by coating the cuticle of pests, blocking their spiracles, and suppressing egg-laying. According to the company, because its mode of action differs from chemical agents that disrupt the nervous system, it can be used on populations that have developed resistance to existing pesticides. It also emphasizes that, as a single formulation that controls both pests and diseases, it can reduce the number of spray applications itself.

 

Corrected mortality of 91.1% after 72 hours at 1,000-fold dilution

The insecticidal effect was confirmed in a laboratory test at an overseas university commissioned by ShareGreen. The Department of Plant Protection at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB University) in Indonesia tested SG10’s control effect against tobacco whiteflies in its insect physiology and toxicology laboratory from October to December 2024.

After diluting it 1,000-fold (0.1%) and applying it to both sides of leaves, nymphs were examined. The corrected mortality rose from 60.1% 24 hours after treatment to 87.8% after 48 hours and 91.1% after 72 hours. Each treatment was repeated five times with at least 20 nymphs per treatment, and the figure was corrected to reflect the natural mortality rate in the untreated control treated only with water.

71% control of melon powdery mildew…Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services test

The fungicidal effect came from a test by a domestic public research institution. According to Choi Yong-seok, an agricultural researcher at the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services who participated in joint research on the SG series, the plant pathology team at the Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services tested the efficacy of the SG1-based substance used in SG10 on melon leaves vulnerable to powdery mildew in 2022, and the control value was 71%. Researcher Choi said, “Powdery mildew is one of the most difficult diseases to control,” adding, “The control effect was very similar to that of agricultural chemicals.”

Choi explained that they are also confirming effects on downy mildew and tomato leaf mold in addition to powdery mildew. However, listing as an organic agricultural input is a system that confirms the suitability of using the material, and efficacy itself must be judged by test results.

 

Seocheon blueberry farm used it for one year and supplied it to member farms through a subsidy project

Kim Moon-gyu, president of the Seocheon County Blueberry Research Association, who grows blueberries in Seocheon County, Chungcheongnam-do, has been using SG10 since 2025. Growing blueberries on about 2,000㎡ (600 pyeong) in facilities and open fields, he learned about ShareGreen through an acquaintance while looking for eco-friendly materials. Chairman Kim explained, “Blueberries are eaten fresh, and because elderly people and children through school meals eat them, I looked for an eco-friendly product.”

The effect Kim cited was also on powdery mildew. He said, “In the facility area, there are many fungi such as powdery mildew, and it is difficult to control them with ordinary chemicals,” adding, “After using it, the occurrence of powdery mildew decreased markedly, and when I sprayed it as a preventive measure against thrips and aphids, I saw a lot of effect.”

After confirming the effect, Kim proposed to the Seocheon County Agricultural Technology Center that SG10 be supplied to member farms in 2026, and this was reflected in the center’s project. The project subsidizes 70% of the cost, while farms bear 30%. He is also recommending its use to watermelon and pepper farms that suffer heavy damage from aphids and thrips.

 

Chungnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services and ShareGreen have conducted joint research since 2020…from SG1 to SG10

The SG series came out of joint research between a public research institution and a company. Researcher Choi believed from 2018 that research on organic agricultural inputs was needed. Because many companies imported foreign raw materials, mixed them, and sold them, he judged that research was necessary even to organize the market. After reviewing several companies, he began joint research with ShareGreen in 2022, as it had emulsification technology and the capability to import vegetable oils. Choi emphasized that the focus was on presenting data showing by what mechanism, against which pests, and how effective the materials were.

The first goal was SG1, specialized for aphids. SG1 was listed in January 2023 as an organic agricultural input for insect pest management (Listing No. 2-5-297). SG10 was then developed by specializing it for each target pest. The material category also expanded from SG1’s insect pest management to SG10’s pest and disease management. Choi explained, “It is also highly effective against scale insects such as mealybugs and against leafhoppers, so its applicability is quite broad.”

In the same test, when SG1 was diluted 500-fold (0.2%), the corrected mortality after 48 hours was 100% for cotton aphids, 94.7% for black locust aphids, and 91.0% for green peach aphids.
There is also a patent that became the basis of the SG series. ShareGreen registered the patent ‘Agricultural Pest Insecticide Composition and Uses Thereof,’ filed in December 2023, in November 2024 (No. 10-2737419). The inventors are CEO Yoon-kyung Seo and Researcher Choi. Choi cited the development of an efficacy enhancer as a key achievement of the joint research.

CEO Seo said, “Most companies use adjuvants, but we make our own natural plant-based efficacy enhancers and design them according to the type of pest,” adding, “The insects that die differ depending on what role the adjuvant plays, and there are almost no places in Korea working in this field.”

Slow-acting formulation, observe for three days

When used in the field, the speed at which the effect appears must be taken into account. Because it is a highly slow-acting formulation, judgment should not be made based only on the control rate 24 hours after treatment. It is recommended to observe for at least three days after spraying and then recheck the density. The company explains that, because plant-based materials are used, there is little concern about phytotoxicity, so it can also be used for home gardening. However, for farms introducing it for the first time, it is safer to conduct a trial spray in some cultivation houses for each crop before expanding use.

 

Preparing local registration in Indonesia and Vietnam

ShareGreen is targeting the Southeast Asian market with this product. In June 2024, it signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Bogor Agricultural University for joint research on pesticide development, testing, and evaluation, and it also carried out on-site farm demonstrations in Vietnam. CEO Seo said, “Tropical fruits such as durian have serious residue issues, so demand for eco-friendly control is high,” adding, “This is why we continue to travel between Indonesia and Vietnam, and we are preparing local export registration.”