Recently, the 2025 Hubei Provincial Science and Innovation Conference was held in Wuhan, where the "Decision of the Hubei Provincial People's Government on Science and Technology Awards for 2024" was read out, and 337 science and technology awards were granted.

The project "Creation of a New Bacillus thuringiensis Nematocidal Preparation", led by Huazhong Agricultural University and jointly promoted by Wuhan KERNEL Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "KERNEL"), was awarded the First Prize in the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Awards for 2024.

Professor Sun Ming, Director of the National Engineering Research Center for Microbial Pesticides and Vice Dean of the College of Life Sciences at Huazhong Agricultural University, received the award on behalf of the project team. Hu Xiao, Manager of KERNEL's Product Development Department, and Liu Shoude, Senior R&D Manager of the Technical Department, received the award certificates.

Biological control is one of the most promising root-knot nematode prevention solutions, but it generally faces the bottleneck of "scarce available products". The project "Creation of a New Bacillus thuringiensis Nematocidal Preparation" achieved success through university-enterprise collaboration. By combining the advantages of Professor Sun Ming's team from the National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbial Resources at Huazhong Agricultural University in screening and mechanism analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis strains, and KERNEL's high-end manufacturing technology for agricultural biocontrol Bacillus, they successfully industrialized the nematode prevention patented strain Bacillus thuringiensis HAN055, forming the high-end nematocidal product Barrier®.

During the project's advancement, KERNEL assembled a dedicated team for in-depth industrialization research. Through fermentation metabolism and kinetics studies, they established a dual-high fermentation process with high cell density and high nematocidal activity substance. They pioneered a process for full recovery of spores and active ingredients, creating a 20 billion CFU/g fully soluble powder suitable for simplified cultivation modes, enhancing nematocidal activity and reducing application costs - helping Barrier® pass the first hurdle of microbial preparation development - the "Manufacturing Stage".

Simultaneously, in application, KERNEL and project team members conducted multi-dimensional evaluations through indoor in-situ testing, plot experiments, and regional parallel verification. By analyzing plant, root system, soil nutrients, and stimulant characteristics throughout the crop cycle, they established the "KERNEL Three-Pronged Approach" for nematode prevention. Focusing on plant protection, stress resistance, and nutrition, they provided comprehensive protection throughout the crop's growth cycle. This not only effectively solved root-knot nematode infection issues but also improved crop resistance to adversity and disease infections, enhancing quality and growth - helping Barrier® pass the second hurdle of microbial preparation development - the "Application Stage".

Combining the "KERNEL Three-Pronged Approach" field comprehensive application solution, Barrier® was extensively promoted in crops like melons, nightshades, ginger, and medicinal herbs in Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei, Yunnan, Hainan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Multiple data showed that the product significantly reduced losses from plant parasitic nematodes like root-knot nematodes, decreased chemical pesticide usage, improved crop quality, and enhanced soil ecology - meaning Barrier® had passed the third hurdle of microbial preparation development - the "Promotion Stage". The launch of KERNEL's nematocidal agent Barrier® not only increased the number of completely independent intellectual property nematocidal products in China but also broadened the application field of Bt. As a successful case of research achievement transformation through university-enterprise collaboration, the product effectively encouraged industry innovation and played a crucial role in promoting high-quality and green, efficient development of Chinese pesticide industry.