Barbados and Cuba’s Biorat Success Signals New Era in Sustainable Rodent Control

Rodent control is a major concern in Barbados, primarily faced due to the presence of black and brown rats in businesses and homes. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is supporting various rodent control programs, wherein Barbados is partnering with Cuba on a pilot initiative that utilizes the biological rodenticide "Biorat."

Barbados has a long history of rodenticide problems, including the high risk of leptospirosis and other diseases caused by the rodents.

• On April 18, 2025, the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation reported on a joint pilot program between Cuba and Barbados that utilizes a biological rodenticide called Biorat
  • The Biorat pest control method is employed in anti-rat campaigns to reduce rat and mouse populations to levels that do not pose a risk to public health or the economy
• On 24^th May 2025, Barbadian authorities recognized positive results from a pilot study using Biorat, a product made by Cuba's Labiofam
  • Representatives from various Barbados ministries and institutions, along with the Office of the World Food Programme of the United Nations, discussed the outcomes of a field trial in urban areas of the country. Researchers from Labiofam worked with local health authorities to lead the trial

The success of this project demonstrates the advantages of collaboration between the Cuban institution and its Barbadian partners. The partnership between Barbadian authorities and Cuba’s Labiofam in May 2025 introduces a scientific and public health connection between the two countries. This collaboration might pave the way for further joint initiatives in public health, biotechnology and other fields.

• The "Biorat" product sees significant potential in the U.S. following the recent news of the reintroduction of the Plant Biostimulant Act on May 27, 2025. This legislation aims to establish a uniform federal definition for plant biostimulants, which will encompass rodenticides, and create a consistent regulatory pathway for their approval in the market.

Furthermore, the act encourages additional research on the benefits of rodenticide products. At present, there is no clear federal framework for the use and approval of plant biostimulants in the U.S. The new legislation seeks to address this issue by providing federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

As a result, Biorat finds an opportunity by means of the Plant Biostimulant Act, which could facilitate Biorat’s entry into the U.S. market. This process would involve defining “biological rodenticides” and establishing criteria for their safety and efficacy, which could potentially reduce the cost and time.