Abstract
Ryania speciosa is a grove belonging to the family Flacourtiacea, located in tropical climates in Central-and South-America. The Indigenous population used the plant, which contains toxic alkaloids, against cockroaches. In the forties the ground wood was used as insecticide against different pests. In the first version of annex 2b from the EC regulation 2092/91, Ryania was still listed, but it was subsequently cancelled due to its lack of registration as a pesticide in any European country. In organic farming, only a few insecticides are allowed, but in orchards there is a permanent need to control larvae such as coddling moth, etc. The Italian Ministry of Agriculture initiated a survey to investigate the possibility of developing an 'organic' pesticide based on Ryania. Basic research was done, working on extraction methods, synergists, spectrum of action, degradation, and efficacy in comparison with other modern pesticides including ecotoxicological investigations. Organic fruit growers hope that a company takes on Ryania to pass it through the registration procedure and puts some formulations on the market.