A ‘BRILLIANT’ former Teignmouth student is the co-founder of a company with a board member advising new American president Joe Biden on science and technology.

Pedro Coelho spent two years at Trinity School, and is now part of Provivi Inc which is helping to control insect infestation around the world.

Since January the organisation has been assisting the president on science and technology (PCAST).

The other two founders of the company are Frances Arnold, the Nobel Chemistry winner in 2018, who is an external co-chair of president Biden’s council of advisors on PCAST, and Peter Meinhold.

The trio have masterminded the manufacture of pheromones, an ecologically friendly way of pest control that selectively affect the target pests without harming beneficial insects.

The ground-breaking technology was described by United Nations peace ambassador, Jane Goodall, as a solution to help overcome food shortages in the future.

Provivi recently received 10 million US dollars investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help increase the supply of the pheromones to small holder farmers in Kenya, India and Bangladesh.

Pedro, 35, said: ‘For every acre we develop in sales, we will be developing one acre on a non-profit basis for small holders in developing countries.’

He arrived in Teignmouth in 2002 from Brazil, and studied at Trinity, which attracts youngsters from all over the world, for two years.

He was obviously an exceptional pupil from day one, and went on to become head boy and obtain top grade A-Levels in physics, maths, chemistry and further maths, to ensure he won a place to study chemistry at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he became top scholar in his first year.

After graduation, he pursued his Ph.D in America, supported by Frances Arnold.

Former Trinity head Colin Ashby declared: ‘I have taught a lot of very talented youngsters over the years, but Pedro really stood out was one of the most brilliant. I am not surprised he is doing so well.

‘He continues to use his abilities to the full by helping others.’

Pedro has kept in touch with his former chemistry teacher, Gill Phillips, who added: ‘He was an incredible student, who very much wanted to use chemistry to save lives.’

In a recent email to Mr Ashby, Pedro, said: ‘When I look back at the events that have brought me to where I am now, It is clear that Trinity’s support was the decisive first step.’

Current Trinity head, Lawrence Coen, described Pedro as an inspiration to all the pupils, ‘who I believe will continue to follow in his footsteps to make the world a better place as they pursue successful careers.’