Scientists at AGERI and the University of Wyoming have been involved in collaborative research studies funded by USAID/Cairo for the past six years which involve Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacterium which kills insects. The research efforts led to the development of a biological pesticide, based on a highly potent strain of Bt called C-18 isolated in the Nile Delta. C-18 not only is extremely potent, it is effective against a broad range of insects represented by the orders Lepidoptera (moths), Coleoptera (beetles) and Diptera (mosquitoes) as well. An additional significant feature of C-18 is its capacity to kill nematodes.

Research and development of C-18, carried out by the AGERI/Wyoming research teams, has led to the commercial development of this organism as a biopesticide to be manufactured and marketed as AGERIN with potential sales worldwide.