Olive flies are a significant pest in the olive industry, causing substantial economic losses

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Apex Bait Technologies, Inc. $180,875 under the Small Business Innovation Research Program (CFDA 10.212) on September 30, 2025, to develop and optimize OliveGard, a liquid bait formulation using naturally occurring boric acid for olive fly control in commercial orchards.

The project encompasses formulation optimization, semi-field efficacy and attractiveness trials, and large-scale orchard evaluation of OliveGard's performance and impact on non-target species. Olive flies are a significant pest causing substantial economic losses in the olive industry; OliveGard offers a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical insecticides by addressing environmental and pest-resistance concerns while delivering effective control. The bait is designed for integration into existing pest management systems and is intended to be highly attractive to olive flies, potentially outperforming current baits.

Apex Bait Technologies, based in Santa Clara, California, operates an Entomology Division focused on specialized pest control bait development. The work is performed at the recipient's Santa Clara location. The award period concludes on May 7, 2026. This is a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research project, supporting early-stage research to demonstrate technical feasibility and advance the innovation toward commercialization.

Traditional chemical insecticides raise concerns about environmental impact and pest resistance. Olivegard is an innovative liquid bait that uses naturally occurring boric acid to control olive flies effectively while being environmentally friendly. This project aims to:optimize the bait's formulation.test its attractiveness and effectiveness in semi-field trials.evaluate its performance and minimal impact on non-target species in large-scale orchard trials.olivegard is designed to be highly attractive to olive flies, potentially outperforming existing baits, and can be integrated into existing pest management systems. IT offers olive growers a sustainable, safe, and effective solution to reduce crop losses while supporting ecological health.