Arysta LifeScience licenses proprietary immunoprotein biopesticides from IPP

Arysta LifeScience recently signed a licensing agreement with the Institute of Plant Protection (IPP) granting Arysta LifeScience exclusive global access (excluding China) to certain protein technologies of IPP, one of which already has been successfully commercialized in China.

For more than 10 years, IPP, part of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS), has been developing a platform for selecting, identifying, quantifying, and patenting plant immunity inducers derived from fungal pathogens. One of these technologies is a protein from Alternaria tenuissima and identified as PeaT1. In June 2014, IPP formulated PeaT1 into an end-use product registered in China with ICAMA and launched it as the first plant immunoprotein biopesticide. In its first full year on the market, the product (marketed under the brand Atailing), generated sales in excess of US$10 million.

The initial registration of Atailing was for the control of viral diseases in vegetables and tobacco. Ongoing research is investigating its performance against viral and bacterial diseases in a wide range of annual and perennial crops.

The other IPP technology for which Arysta LifeScience has negotiated licensing rights is Hrip1. It is derived from the same pathogen (Alternaria tenuissima) as PeaT1 and also holds potential as a commercially viable biopesticide.

“These technologies are unique in the industry and represent an innovative and effective approach toward disease control in agricultural crops, such as citrus, tobacco and a number of vegetables,” says Paula Pinto, global head of portfolio management, Arysta LifeScience. “This agreement complements our growing portfolio of biosolutions products and will allow us to further expand our offerings to growers around the world.”

The agreement gives Arysta LifeScience access to the protein technologies as well as all related end-use formulations and the right to develop new solo formulations and mixtures.