Valent BioSciences Opens New Biorationals Plant In Iowa [Slideshow]

Valent BioSciences Corporation (VBC) officially opened the doors to its new Osage, IA, biorationals manufacturing facility on June 27. The $146 million plant, which the company calls “the largest purpose-built biorational product facility in the world,” will supply the majority of VBC’s products derived from fermentation. Those products were formerly produced by AbbVie Inc.

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Having its own manufacturing facility was an attractive option given the continued growth in the biopesticide sector, says VBC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ted Melnik.

“Valent BioSciences has made a long-term, consistent investment in research and development, and we have long-term know how in positioning biorationals alongside conventional chemistry,” Melnik says . “To be successful, you have to be able to position both.”

Editors from Meister Media publications American Vegetable Grower, American Fruit Grower, and CropLife visited the plant to meet with VBC leaders and take an advance tour of the facilities in early June. The 130,000-square-foot building contains fermentation systems, a pilot plant for small-scale manufacture of products in development, quality control testing labs, and an insectary.

“The new Osage plant means true continuity from discovery through product development to manufacturing and delivery of new high-quality products to our global customers,” says VBC Vice President of Global R&D and Regulatory Affairs Warren Schafer.

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