Marrone Bio Submits Two New Products For Registration Consideration

Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) announced the submission of two new agricultural biopesticides to EPA.

The first submission is a novel bioinsecticide with broad-spectrum activity on both sucking and chewing insects. The product source is a licensed bacterium discovered in the lab of microbiologist Dr. Phyllis Martin at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Developed as a commercial product in MBI’s Davis, California R&D facility in under two years’ time, lab and field studies on the new insecticide show excellent activity on whitefly, spider mite, diamondback moth, cabbage looper, tobacco budworm, and Lygus bugs.

“This is an important and much needed new product, and the first bacterial-based insecticide to be introduced since Bt,” states Pam Marrone, CEO and Founder of Marrone Bio Innovations. “Its rapid development is testament to the expertise of our research, development and regulatory teams at MBI.”

MBI’s second EPA submission is a bioherbicide, based on a lead obtained from a novel marine microbe originally discovered by and licensed from DuPont Crop Protection. Initially, the product was seen as a selective rice herbicide, due to its ability to kill broadleaf weeds such as redstem and waterplantain, as well as sedge affecting yields in rice production. However, further testing has identified additional market opportunities in turf, wheat, and other cereal crops as well.

Source: Marrone Bio Innovations news release