LITHOS Industrial Minerals was honoured for its outstanding innovation as the most innovative KMU (small- and medium company) by the province Lower Austria and the Economic Chamber of Lower Austria.
The Lower Austria Innovation price is an award for innovation projects of Lower Austrian companies and innovative developments of their research institutions. The price, the public award and the media reports underline the importance of innovation and research for increasing the competitiveness of the Lower Austrian economy.
Award winner: CornProtect
The economically most important maize pest „Western Corn Rootworm“ is spreading rapidly over whole Europe.Up to now, it could only be combated by poisonous pesticides. In 2013, the bee-harmful neonicotinoides were prohibited by the EU, therefore at present no effective method for controlling the Western Corn Rootworm is available in Europe (in the USA, the pest is suppressed by genetically modified organisms). LITHOS developed the new product „CornProtect“, based on a special mineral in combination with a biological, environmentally harmless method to combat the pest. By use of the so called „mating disruption method“, the reproduction of the pest and therefore the coming up of the next generation responsible for the main damages in maize can be prevented.
More information about the award show and the other winners you can find at www.innovationspreis-noe.at