NEWS

Michael Adang

Inventor’s Award 2006

Michael Adang, Professor of Entomology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, studies insects that have natural tolerance for or an acquired resistance to toxins that are typically used to protect crops. As an inventor in this field, he created technologies resulting in twelve patents. While conducting research at UGA with funding from the Georgia Research Alliance, the U.S Department of Agriculture, and the National Institutes of Health, Adang discovered a new protein that increases the effectiveness of the bioinsecticide Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt). His discovery, which he calls “Bt-Booster,” expands the range of insects that Bt works against and reduces the amount required to be effective. The benefits are higher crop yields and less environmental impact. InsectiGen, a new biotech company based at UGA’s Georgia BioBusiness Center, has been formed to commercialize Bt-Booster as a biological control agent.