Beat the bugs

Australia has never exactly been short of bugs. For as long as gardeners have tilled Australian soil, insects and other pests have proved a remorseless enemy.

Although there are several products dedicated to eliminating these flying and crawling adversaries, most of them involve toxic chemicals.

The rise in popularity of organic produce and increased concern over the impact of releasing chemicals into the atmosphere doesn’t lend itself well to dousing your runner beans with noxious liquid.

Therefore, there could well be a gap in the market for a business that provides pest control in a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly way.

South Korean company Eco Solatec has led the way with several chemical-free products, the most notable being the Solar Trap.

The device uses a lamp to attract mosquitoes, moths, mayflies and other pests. The bugs are then pushed into Spiderman-style netting. Adding to its environmental credentials, it’s based on solar power, too.