Biological crop input company Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI), Davis, Calif., said on Aug. 16 that it and agtech company Terramera, Vancouver, B.C., will collaborate to combine their technological and biological expertise to enhance the performance of MBI’s crop protection products and expedite product development.
The collaboration is expected to provide a platform that will bring existing and new biologicals to market supported by Terramera’s artificial intelligence-based screening platform of novel adjuvants, Plant Intelligence Engine™, and Actigate technology, a proprietary green chemistry that delivers active ingredients directly into target cells. The synergistic approach is anticipated to increase the performance and consistency of new and existing active ingredients in Marrone Bio’s portfolio, including Regalia® Biofungicide, newly developed Stargus® Biofungicide, Venerate® XC Bioinsecticide, and Grandevo® WDG Bioinsecticide.
In addition to the collaboration, field trials are planned for late summer and early fall to test performance of the combination of two commercially available products, MBI’s Venerate XC Bioinsecticide and Terramera’s Rango™. Additional trials are contemplated for spring 2022.
Founded in 2010, the privately-held Terramera is committed to reducing the global synthetic pesticide load 80 percent by 2030. It reports more than 250 patents in its portfolio.
MBI is involved in biological inputs, including crop protection, crop health, and crop nutrition. It has portfolio of more than 15 products, and said it has more than 500 issued and pending patents.