Marrone Bio joins forces with Vive Crop Protections to develop next-generation biologicals

Marrone Bio Innovations Inc (NASDAQ:MBII) announced an agreement Thursday to team up with precision chemistry company Vive Crop Protection to pair the former’s biopesticide products with the latter’s Allosperse Delivery System.

The collaboration is intended to provide a suite of products to growers in the US, starting with AZterknot FC, a fungicide for broad crop use that will be marketed by Vive. AZterknot combines reynoutria extract, the active ingredient in Marrone’s Regalia fungicide, and the disease-fighting power of azoxystrobin, the active ingredient in Vive’s AZteroid FC.

AZterknot FC will also make use of Vive’s Allosperse Delivery System technology, which delivers superior handling characteristics and is compatible with in-furrow, pop-up and foliar liquid fertilizers. 

READ: Marrone Bio Innovations sets August 3 start date for new CEO Kevin Helash; plans 2Q conference call

The collaboration with MBI allows us to bring growers the best of three approaches to crop protection: chemistry, biologicals and nanotechnology,” Vive VP of Sales and Marketing Dan Bihlmeyer said in a statement. “With AZterknot FC, growers will have access to the combined power of a leading biological and of a proven fungicide chemistry. Research has shown that the two actives, in combination with the Allosperse Delivery System, work together to control disease, improve plant health, and increase yield.”

Regulatory approval for AZterknot FC is expected in mid-2021, at which point it will be available through distributor and retail commercial channels in the US, the company said.

Marrone also plans to market a version of the product to specialty crop growers once it gets the nod from regulators. Regalia is one of the most used biologicals in the specialty crop market, the company said, and the combination with both azoxystrobin and the Allosperse technology gives growers a single product that enhances performance and improves yield.

“Our partnership with Vive is an example of how MBI has focused on growth by creating innovative and integrated crop management solutions for growers of a wide range of crops,” Marrone Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Hammill said in a statement. “These next-generation BioUnite products will not only give US growers access to effective crop protection technology, but it will allow them to better manage their crops by harnessing the power of biologicals with the performance of chemistry.”

Contact Andrew Kessel at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel

Story by ProactiveInvestors