Tomi Environmental Solutions’ BIT recognized by USDA as potential bee solution

Tomi Environmental Solutions announced the completion of a study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture – USDA – and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture – NIFA – which demonstrated SteraMist iHP as an effective treatment of deformed wing virus contaminated hive substrates. The study aimed to determine if the use of cold plasma ionized hydrogen peroxide can reduce the infectivity of DWV to naive honey bee pupae. Widespread colony collapse could result in a significant decline in the diversity of fresh produce and substantially impact human nutrition on a global scale. It is of critical importance for the USDA and NIFA to identify a non-toxic, quick, and effective disinfection system capable of deactivating latent DWV on hive substrates. The study utilized a SteraMist Environment System along with Tomi’s Binary Ionization Technology solution. The findings confirmed the efficacy of iHP as an effective method for pathogen decontamination of deformed wing virus in honey bee substrate. Additionally, iHP treatment was found to achieve higher levels of DWV inactivation at a substantially shorter treatment duration when compared to ethylene oxide treatment or gamma irradiation.