Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. Products Show Impressive Results in International Trials Against Key Pests and Diseases
10 July 2017 - 10:30PM
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBII), (MBI) a leading
provider of bio-based pest management and plant health products for
agriculture, turf and ornamental and water treatment markets, has
reported excellent product efficacy results in fast growing
international markets with intense pest and plant disease problems.
The drivers beind the rapid adoption of
biologicals are globally recognized and include evidence of
increased yields and crop quality when biologicals are integrated
into programs. Biologicals are also a key driver behind the
reduction or elimination of synthetic pesticide residues on crops
for export markets, delay of pest and plant pathogen resistance to
chemicals, safety for workers and pollinators, and less
environmental pollution.
In South Africa, Grandevo® and
Venerate® Bioinsecticides have generated positive trial
results in citrus - a key agricultural market. MBI products reduced
citrus rust mite populations more than 96% and offered fruit a
comparable level of protection as commonly used chemical products.
Both Grandevo and Venerate provided effective control of citrus
fruit damage caused by false codling moth. This pest bores into the
citrus fruit, making them unmarketable. South Africa is Africa’s
largest exporter of agricultural products and exports more than 1.6
million metric tons of citrus annually, with most fruit being
shipped to the EU and Asia where limits on chemical residues are
strictly enforced1. South African growers are increasing their use
of biologicals to meet the demands for residue-free food from local
and international markets, and in response to the EU’s ban on
controversial neonicotinoid insecticides.
In Latin America, field trials with MBI products
have demonstrated efficacy in addressing serious, key crop
problems. For example, the addition of Regalia® Biofungicide
enhanced existing industry programs for controlling coffee rust.
Venerate Bioinsecticide, used in integrated pest management (IPM)
programs for managing the dreaded coffee berry borer or “Broca,”
successfully reduced the number of organophosphate insecticide
applications, including that of the controversial chlorpyrifos, by
50 percent. The program with Venerate reduced boring damage
by almost 70%, which was 40 percent more effective than the
chemical-only program. Broca can cause coffee farmers to lose
up to 20 percent of a crop and reduce the crop’s marketable price
by 30 to 40 percent2. Coffee rust causes $1 billion in damage to
coffee plants across Latin America and the Caribbean.3
Majestene® Bionematicide reduced the most
important pest nematodes of bananas (burrowing nematodes) as well
as or better than the organophosphate, chlorpyrifos. The burrowing
nematode destroys the roots of bananas and plantains so that the
plants are starved of water, nutrients, and lack support,
causing 30-60% yield loss4. The use of Majestene to control
nematodes would be a major step forward in reducing exposure risks
to pesticide applicators as well.
In Mexico, both Grandevo and Venerate
bioinsecticides have demonstrated effective and reliable control of
the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), a serious pest that transmits HLB
disease. The Asian citrus psyllid has devastated Florida groves and
has been recently found in California. Field trial data supporting
the use of these two MBI-developed bioinsecticides to control Asian
citrus psyllid is now being submitted to support label amendments,
adding ACP control to existing Grandevo and Venerate registrations
and labels in Mexico.
In Asia, Regalia is advancing in banana trials
in the Philippines, showing good activity against the most serious
disease this crop faces globally, black sigatoka. In previous
trials in Costa Rica, Regalia combined with the standard chemical
program increased banana girth by 27% compared to the standard
chemical program alone. Convential sprays for this disease
are 15-20% of the cost of bananas ($1000/hectare, 25-40 sprays per
season).5
In Vietnam, MBI’s distribution partner has
completed initial trials with Regalia showing a 20% increase in
rice yields, and a concurrent reduction in discolored and unfilled
grain caused by rice neck blast disease. Also, in citrus trials in
Vietnam, Regalia decreased bacterial canker by more than 70%. In
insecticide trials, Grandevo performed under intense pest pressure,
reducing pest populations for control of red mites, thrips and
mealybugs on strawberry, pumpkin, custard apple, orange and dragon
fruit.
Sources: 1USDA Foreign Agricultural
Service, Global Agricultural Information Network Report 12/15/16,
2Specialty Coffee Association of America, 3 US AID, 4Pestnet.org,
5American Phytopathological Society
About Marrone Bio Innovations
Smart. Natural. Solutions.Marrone Bio
Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBII) strives to lead the movement to a
more sustainable world through the discovery, development and
promotion of biological products for pest management and plant
health. MBI’s effective and environmentally responsible pest
management solutions help customers operate more sustainably while
uniquely improving plant health and increasing crop yields. MBI
currently has six commercially available products (Regalia®,
Grandevo®, Venerate®, Majestene®, Haven™ and Zequanox®) as well as
eight product candidates in various stages of the company’s rapid
development pipeline. MBI also distributes Bio-tam 2.0® for Isagro
USA in the western U.S. and Jet-Ag® for Jet Harvest in most regions
of the U.S.
Marrone Bio Innovations is dedicated to
pioneering smart biopesticide solutions that support a better
tomorrow for both farmers and consumers around the globe. For
more information, please visit www.marronebio.com.
Marrone Bio Innovations Forward Looking
StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking
statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
included in this press release regarding strategy, future
operations and plans, including assumptions underlying such
statements, are forward-looking statements, and should not be
relied upon as representing MBI’s views as of any subsequent date.
Examples of such statements include statements regarding
sales of the Company’s products, the potential benefits of the
Company’s products, and MBI’s efforts with respect to expansion of
its product labels in international markets. Such forward-looking
statements are based on information available to the Company as of
the date of this release and involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, some beyond the Company's control, that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these
forward-looking statements, including consumer, regulatory and
other factors affecting demand for the Company’s products, any
difficulty in marketing MBI’s products vin global markets,
competition in the market for pest management products, lack of
understanding of bio-based pest management products by customers
and growers, and adverse decisions by regulatory agencies and other
relevant third parties. Additional information that could
lead to material changes in MBI’s performance is contained in its
filings with the SEC. MBI is under no obligation to, and
expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter
forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise
Marrone Bio Innovations Contacts:
Pam Marrone, CEO and Founder
Julie Versman, Sr. Director of International Business
Telephone: +1 (530) 750-2800
Email: Info@marronebio.com
Investor Relations:
Greg Falesnik
Managing Director
MZ Group – MZ North America
Main: 949-385-6449
MBII@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us
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