Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBII) (MBI) and Groundwork
BioAg, Ltd (Groundwork) today announced successful seed treatment
field trials of the world’s first all-biological comprehensive seed
treatment. The treatments tested in corn and soybeans
contained a mycorrhizal inoculant from Groundwork, as well as a
bioinsecticide, a bionematicide, and a biofungicide from MBI.
The Biological Stack Seed Treatment (BSST) is
comprised of two insecticidal/nematicidal bacteria, one
biostimulant/fungicidal bacterium and mycorrhizal fungi. Together,
these synergistic microorganisms can provide a wide scope of
benefits to growers: crop yield increases, resilience under abiotic
stress conditions, reduction of fertilizer requirements (especially
phosphorus), and resistance to soil-dwelling pests and plant
diseases. In fact, we believe BSST constitutes the first
all-biological seed treatment able to effectively provide all of
these benefits without synthetic pesticides.
Dr. Pam Marrone, Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Marrone Bio Innovations, commented, “We are excited that
the first year of trials confirmed and enhanced our previous field
trials with our pesticidal microbes. The addition of Groundwork’s
mycorrhizae appear to enhance these microbes. We believe that
this project has potential for high impact in the seed treatment
market in general across a broad range of crops, and in particular
can meet an unaddressed need for the rapidly growing organic grain
segment and regions where pest resistance is an issue. Based
on the BSST results, we are keen on expanding our trials to include
biotic stresses such as sudden death syndrome in soybean, as well
as Fusarium stalk rot and Pythium in corn and soybeans.”
Dr. Yossi Kofman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of Groundwork BioAg, added, “Our Rootella™ product line is
extremely cost-effective and has been proven to enhance yields of
row crops, such as corn and soybean. Rootella is particularly
effective under abiotic stress conditions, such as drought,
flooding, acidity, or detrimental weather. The novel
combination of Rootella with MBI’s biotic stress protection will
simultaneously enhance yields and protect crops – and thus farmer
investment.”
Corn and soybeans were tested in four Midwestern US
states. In corn, the two bio-stacked treatments reduced corn
rootworm populations and corn lodging, at least as well or better
than the commercial chemical standard. Reduced corn rootworm
damage generally correlated with increased yields. BSST
Treatment 1 provided an average increase of 10.9 bushels (+5.8%),
and BSST Treatment 2 an average increase of 12.5 bushels (+7.2%).
Respectively, these improvements were 3 and 7.4 bushels higher than
the commercial standard, which included chemical insecticide,
nematicide and fungicides.
For trials targeting corn nematodes, most BSST
treatments and the commercial chemical standard reduced nematode
populations. Yields for BSST Treatments 1 and 2 averaged 16
and 22 bushels (7.3% and 10.4%) higher than untreated seeds,
respectively. BSST Treatment 2 increased yields by 4.5
bushels over the standard chemical seed treatment (insecticide,
nematicide, fungicides).
In soybeans, MBI’s nematicides combined with
Groundwork’s mycorrhizal inoculant reduced soybean cyst nematodes
as effectively as did the commercial standard treatment.
Yields of BSST-treated soybeans averaged 8 bushels per acre (+15%)
higher than those of untreated soybeans.
Groundwork separately tested its Rootella™
mycorrhizal inoculants in corn, soybeans and lentils in large-scale
trials in three Midwestern US states. These trials confirmed
improvements in plant vigor and vitality under abiotic stress
conditions, including low fertility soils, lower phosphorous and
drought conditions. In soybeans, Rootella™ provided an
increase of 11 bushel/acre (19%), in corn an increase of 32
bushel/acre (30%), and in lentils an increase of 600 lb./acre
(33%). In smaller, contracted research trials in Iowa, corn
grown with 50% less phosphorous (P) performed at least as well or
better than the full P applications. All Rootella™ trials
were performed at commercially recommended application rates,
however BSST combinations were not tested for abiotic or low
fertility conditions.
While industry estimates vary, the companies
estimate the global seed treatment market at $4.2 billion, growing
at a compound annual rate of 10% over the next five years.
Insecticides currently hold the largest share of this market and
the crop protection category is expected to be the fastest growing
segment over the next several years.
The Binational Industrial Research and Development
Foundation (BIRD), a foundation that supports and encourages
cooperation between Israeli and U.S. companies in various areas of
technology, selected the collaboration between MBI and Groundwork
for partial funding.
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.
Our effective and environmentally responsible solutions help
customers operate more sustainably while controlling pests,
improving plant health, and increasing crop yields. We have four
products for agriculture on the market (Regalia®, Grandevo®,
Venerate® and Majestene®), and also distribute Bio-tam 2.0® for
Isagro USA in the western U.S. MBI also markets Zequanox® for
invasive mussels for water markets. We also have a proprietary
discovery process, a rapid development platform, and a robust
pipeline of pest management and plant health product candidates. At
Marrone Bio Innovations we are dedicated to pioneering better
biopesticides that support a better tomorrow for users around the
globe. For more information, please visit
www.marronebio.com.
About Groundwork BioAgLet
your ground work.Groundwork BioAg, Ltd produces
cost-effective mycorrhizal inoculants for commercial
agriculture. Natural mycorrhizal fungi improve soil nutrient
uptake in 90% of all plant species. When applied to
agriculture, mycorrhizal inoculants significantly increase crop
yields, especially under stress conditions. Growers can also
reduce fertilizer application rates, most notably phosphorus.
Groundwork’s uniquely vigorous and highly concentrated Rootella™
products have demonstrated impressive field trial results in
several major crops, such as corn, soybean, tomato and onion.
The company operates in several countries within the high-growth,
multi-billion-dollar bioagriculture market. For more
information, please visit www.groundworkbioag.com.
About the BIRD FoundationSince
1997, the BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development)
Foundation works to encourage cooperation between Israeli and
American companies in various areas of technology, and provides
free assistance in locating strategic partners from both countries
for developing joint products. The BIRD Foundation supports
projects without receiving any rights in the participating
companies or in the project itself. The financial assistance
is repaid as royalties from sales. The Foundation provides
support of up to 50% of a project’s budget, beginning with R&D
and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing.
The Foundation shares the risk and does not demand that the
investment be repaid if the project fails to reach the sales
stage.
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
MBI’s proposed comprehensive seed treatment product with
Groundwork, including the development, commercialization, market
for and potential benefits of the proposed product, expectations
regarding the potential product being first of its kind to market,
MBI’s efforts with respect to other potential products, MBI’s
relationships with strategic partners, including Groundwork and
Evogene, and funding by BIRD Foundation. 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 any difficulty in developing
and commercializing the potential seed treatment product, marketing
the potential product with MBI’s principal customers, 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 Contact:
Pam Marrone, CEO and Founder
Telephone: +1 (530) 750-2800
Email: nhood@marronebio.com
MBI Investor Contact:
James Palczynski, ICR
Telephone: +1 (203) 682-8229
Email: James.Palczynski@icrinc.com
Groundwork BioAg Contact:
Dan Grotsky, VP Sales & Marketing
Telephone: +972-77-5020806
Email: info@groundworkbioag.com
BIRD Foundation Contact:
Dr. Ron H. Maron, Director BD
Telephone +97236988306
Email: Ron@birdf.com
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