Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (MBI), (NASDAQ:MBII), a leading
manufacturer and marketer of bio-based pest management and plant
health products for the agriculture, turf and ornamental, and water
treatment markets, hosted a training featuring eight Florida and
Georgia experts reviewing the most current data on nematode
management. Enrolled in this CEU approved training in Tampa, Fla.,
were 15 growers and representatives from major agricultural
distributors from Florida and Georgia, as well as 16 employees from
MBI.
According to the United States Department of
Agriculture, nematodes are one of the greatest threats to crops in
the U.S. and the world. These microscopic worms can attack any part
of a plant, but most commonly attack the root systems of plants.
Because roots are affected, growers might not recognize damage
until the plant is fully developed, which results in a significant
decrease in yield and quality.
“The purpose of this training, which was offered
as a CEU course for agronomists and consultants, was to give
growers the most up to date information on identifying and managing
nematodes,” said Bielinski Santos, PhD, MBI’s southeast product
development manager. “Crop damage from nematodes is often
mistaken for other plant diseases. At the same time, we provided
education about the science and use of biopesticides and how to
integrate them into integrated pest management programs.”
“Our training, was aimed at helping growers
understand how to tell if nematodes are at the ‘root’ of the
problem in their fields. Nematodes remain fairly under-identified
because they can only be identified by studying under a microscope
multiple soil samples from a single field,” said Santos.
One of the featured nematologists was Joe
Noling, PhD and professor of nematology from the University of
Florida, who specializes in nematodes in Florida’s numerous fruit
and vegetable crops. “The first thing to understand about nematodes
is that they are aquatic creatures, so they seek water in soil.
Because of this, understanding how farmers apply and water in the
application of any product is a key to successful nematode
management. You have to get the product where the nematode lives,
so how much water to apply, how fast, timing, and the irrigation
method are all things that need to be considered.”
Kathy Lawrence, PhD and a professor in Auburn
University’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology presented
Nematodes 101, a very instructive presentation about the biology
and taxonomy of plant parasitic nematodes, said, “Given the losses
to nematodes every year in crop production and the loss of older
chemical products, the market needs innovative new products.”
Gary Lawrence, PhD and professor of nematology
at Mississippi State University also presented data. His work
reviewed and presented information on the importance of new
nematicides for southeastern annual crops, such as sweet potato and
vegetables.
Training covered data from field trials on
various products, information on identification of types of
nematodes, and management strategies including weed management. Of
key interest to the audience, were studies that reviewed how
products and nematodes moved in various soil types.
Typically, nematicides are injected into the
soil as a fumigant, watered in through irrigation systems, or
shanked-in and watered into the soil. Understanding how much water
to apply to get the nematicide into the root zone of the plant is
critical. Movement of water and nematodes varies by soil type. MBI
is investing heavily in the science to better understand this
critical relationship between water and product movement.
In 2016, Marrone launched a new bionematicide,
Majestene, a broad spectrum, high performance natural bionematicide
that kills nematodes and increases yields in a wide range of
agricultural crops. Majestene, based on a novel
bacterium that produces nematicidal compounds, was developed from
MBI’s in-house discovery screening process and provides growers
with a new mode of action for safely controlling nematodes by
reducing or stopping eggs from hatching, preventing root galling
and reducing nematode population density. Nematodes cause
approximately $80 billion annually in damages to crops
globally. Majestene was the 2016 Agro Biopesticide of the
year.
A component of this integrated training program was to review
third-party trials conducted by researchers to understand how best
to use the product in the field and to review efficacy. Majestene
was found to be comparable or slightly better than some of the most
commonly used products in the field.
About Marrone Bio
Innovations
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.
Marrone Bio Innovations Forward Looking
Statements
This 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 the potential of
and market for MBI’s Majestene product and its use and value to
growers. 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
risks associated with marketing Majestene 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, adverse decisions by regulatory agencies and
other relevant third parties and the impact of weather conditions
and other factors affecting use of crop protection products .
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:
Nancy M. Hood, VP Marketing
(530) 302-8290
nhood@marronebio.com
MBI Investor Contact:
James Palczynski, ICR
Telephone: +1 (203) 682-8229
Email: James.Palczynski@icrinc.com
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