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On 8 May 2026, Nanjing Red Sun Co., Ltd. and Sichuan Agricultural University (SAU) completed the formal handover of the patented bacterial isolate HS18‑1 during a ceremony held at SAU’s Chengdu campus. The event delivered the first concrete result under the industry–academia strategic cooperation agreement that both parties signed in early April, advancing from contract to transfer in just over 30 days.
The ceremony was attended by Red Sun’s Party Secretary and Chairman Yang Yi, SAU Party Secretary Liu Dengcai, and Vice President Lu Yanli. Under the exclusive license, the strain has been given the commercial designation “Red Sun Subspecies”; its official scientific name remains subject to approval by the competent national authorities.
The commercial pathway for HS18‑1 revolves around isolating the polypeptide proteins produced by the strain to serve as a novel active ingredient. Its insecticidal mechanism is ingestion‑based: once consumed, the protein traverses the insect midgut, binds to specific receptors on the intestinal epithelium, and triggers lethal gut perforation. Because this mode of action differs fundamentally from that of conventional synthetic insecticides, the protein retains efficacy even against pest populations that have developed resistance to existing chemical controls.
Preliminary laboratory and greenhouse assays indicate that the protein is active against several economically important pest groups, including spider mites (Tetranychus spp.), aphids (Aphididae), and lepidopteran species. As a naturally derived protein, it presents no mammalian toxicity and leaves no detectable pesticide residues, aligning with integrated pest management and residue‑free production requirements.
A complete registration dossier has been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). Regulatory approval is expected within approximately 12 months. In parallel, Red Sun has initiated field‑scale demonstration programs in Xinjiang, targeting an annual promotion area of 5 million mu (roughly 333,000 hectares). Company representatives noted that the actual market opportunity could exceed this initial goal.
From a cost perspective, Red Sun states that the new bioinsecticide can reduce combined pesticide and application expenses by RMB 300–450 per hectare per season compared with chlorantraniliprole suspension concentrate, the currently dominant synthetic option. At the same time, it can replace 30%–50% of chemical insecticide usage, delivering both economic and environmental advantages.
Securing the HS18‑1 strain represents a deliberate step in Red Sun’s broader shift toward a dual portfolio of synthetic and biological crop protection products. Concurrently, the company’s Central Research Institute is advancing several other projects, including polyoxin‑based formulations. In addition, its subsidiary Anhui Costar was recently highlighted by the State Taxation Administration as a model case for tax‑compliant green transformation.
On the margins of the handover ceremony, the two sides also held discussions on downstream commercialization mechanisms and joint talent development programs.
