Syngenta To Acquire Florida-Based Pasteuria Bioscience

Pasteuria Bioscience announced that it will be acquired by Syngenta. In 2011, Syngenta and Pasteuria Bioscience entered into a global exclusive technology partnership to produce nematode control products based on Pasteuria spp., a naturally-occurring soil bacteria long recognized as a promising biological control agent against nematodes. The first products resulting from this relationship will be available in 2014.

Under terms of the agreement, Syngenta will acquire Pasteuria Bioscience for aggregate payments of $86 million, plus up to $27 million in deferred payments.

“We’ve been working closely together over the past year and have made significant progress on a number of nematode control products in a variety of crops. Syngenta recognizes the potential with the Pasteuria platform and can commercialize it in a broad range of products for the global marketplace,” said Al Kern, executive chairman and president of Pasteuria Bioscience.

Nematodes are a major pest across all crops and there are few commercial products available making it one of agriculture’s largest unmet pest control needs. This acquisition will facilitate the introduction of key products, including a seed treatment product for soybean cyst Nematode (SCN) which will complement Syngenta’s existing nematicide line.