Re-submissions of an active ingredient or new ways of working with a known compound are costly and time consuming, so choosing the right partner is a critical decision.

Any company developing chemical substances must fully assess the risks posed by the active substance and associated product to the wider environment and natural ecosystem, abiding by the current strict regulations and restrictions in place to protect the environment, which often requires multiple stage testing and result analysis before products are authorised for use.

Whether you are focussed on aquatic or terrestrial ecotoxicology, our goal is to provide you with high quality endpoints for the registration of your crop protection product.

To enhance our extensive suite of ecotoxicology services we will be launching our new Aquatic Fish Testing Laboratory in Spring 2019. Senior scientists will deliver fish acute, early life stage and bioaccumulation / bioconcentration studies using the available exposure systems, from static to flow-through testing. Full life-cycle studies and fish sexual development tests will be subsequently developed.

As your partner we can also offer you access to state-of-the-art facilities and a leading team of expert ecotoxicologists who can deliver studies appropriate across global regulatory frameworks.

Well conducted ecotoxicology studies are a vital part of your testing programme. Our dedicated team of ecotoxicologists have extensive knowledge of the ecotoxicology testing sector, and years of success in conducting both laboratory and field studies including higher tier testing. Our expertise positions us as a leading partner to facilitate your ecotoxicology testing requirements. In addition, our new a ground-breaking E-Flows mesocosm facility will provide data for higher tier risk assessments, and is currently undergoing commissioning and validation.

Our ecotoxicological studies are supported by a dedicated team of analytical chemists to support the development and validation of analytical methods and confirm exposure concentrations. We also have an Environmental Fate team with extensive experience in a range of environmental fate process studies including degradation, sorption, hydrolysis, photolysis and plant uptake using both radiolabelled and non-radiolabelled compounds.

See below for more details on key members of the Fera team

Our Experience

Our experience in the chemical regulation sector and wealth of scientific knowledge is driven by our team of dedicated scientists and experts who coordinate our testing-services and drive innovative research projects to maintain our world-leading levels of service. All of which are supported by our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Our services designed for you

Aquatic Ecotoxicology

Chemical impact assessment is critical for the protection of the aquatic environment. It is important that testing assesses each of the trophic levels; photosynthetic organisms, herbivores and predatory organisms, including fish.

Higher Tier Risk Assessment

Newly-developed chemical compounds need to be safe for the plant and aquatic environment. Our new state-of the-art E-Flows mesocosm and aquatic facilities provide a unique test-bed to demonstrate this

Bee Ecotoxicology Studies

Fera has the research expertise and scientific resources to help you test products for their effects on pollinator survival, development, and behaviour, enabling you to develop products that are safe for bees and other pollinators.

Terrestrial Non-Target Arthropod

Our tests assess the potential effects of your products on seedling emergence and early growth, the effects on above-ground growth and on the soil, to determine any impacts on the reproductive capability of higher plants.

Terrestrial Non-Target Plant

Non-target arthropods play an essential role in ecosystems as pest controllers. We have extensive experience in conducting studies with these non-target arthropods under laboratory, glasshouse, or semi-field conditions.

Regulatory Risk Assessment

Access to experienced senior scientists across all scientific disciplines, we understand the relevant legislative frameworks and are uniquely positioned to assist you meet the regulatory requirements for crop protection registrations.

Fera has the best people in the right place focussed on delivering the right solution. We continuously invest in our people and support them in delivering the best science to our partners.

Trey Kucherka

Trey is responsible for the management and delivery of ecotoxicology studies and the development and expansion of the business and science capabilities within the group. Trey has 20 years of professional experience, primarily in aquatic organism research and ecotoxicology.

Selwyn Wilkins

Selwyn has approaching 30 years of experience in all aspects of apiculture. For over 20 years he worked within the UK National Bee Unit where he specialised in honey bee management.

Chris Sinclair

Chris leads Fera’s efate and metabolism section, performs the role of GLP test facility manager and has many years’ experience completing environmental risk assessments for veterinary medicines and feed additives. Chris and his team deliver high quality GLP complaint environmental fate and animal and plant metabolism studies for Fera’s agrochemical, animal health and pharmaceutical customers.

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