Delaware-based crop protection company Nichino America Inc. and BioConsortia Inc., a microbial products developer based in Davis, Calif., announced on June 20 that they have reached a supply agreement for Nichino to market and sell BEC-60 biofungicide in the US and Canada.
BioConsortia developed BEC-60 as a novel microbial broad spectrum fungicide for control of several key diseases in apples, berries, grapes, stone fruits, and vegetables. As part of the agreement, Nichino is conducting tests to evaluate BEC-60 on additional pathogens and crops.
“It is exciting to add a biological product to our portfolio,” said Dustin Simmons, President of Nichino. “BEC-60 will offer conventional and organic farmers effective control of diseases on important crops, providing a quality yield while managing residues on the final commodity. This new partnership with BioConsortia will enable both organizations to utilize their exceptional research and development capabilities to introduce diverse crop protection solutions to align with the demands of today’s agriculture production.”
The registration package for BEC-60 has been submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency and is pending approval with state registrations to follow thereafter. Product launch is anticipated in 2024-2025.
“Our Advanced Microbial System results in biopesticide products like BEC-60, which offer strong performance for growers,” said Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO at BioConsortia. “The integration of microbial and conventional chemistries gives farmers benefits in terms of diverse modes of action to prevent the development of resistance and improved efficacy. We look forward to Nichino’s launch of this patent-protected product alongside their broad portfolio of crop protection products.”