BioNovelus's biofungicide CR-10 joined the Coffee Rust Battle in Guatemala

BioNovelus, Inc. announced yesterday that its biodegradable fungicide, CR-10, would be tested by major coffee growers in Guatemala, starting this week.

Fedecocagua, one of the largest cooperative of Guatemala with 20,000 coffee growers has agreed to test CR-10 at several of its plantations. Additionally, tests will be launched with Finca Medina, in Antigua, a renowned region for specialty Arabica coffee.

The coffee rust fungus (or “roya” in Spanish) is estimated to have caused over $1 billion in damages in Guatemala alone, since 2012. It is now estimated that 70-80% of its coffee crops are affected by the disease. This is among the highest rates throughout Central America. The government of Guatemala declared a state of emergency in 2013.

"Roya" is affecting everyone involved in the coffee distribution chain — from the farmers working in the fields, to the rich coffee finca owners. Even Starbucks is not immune from this growing menace. Coffee harvests of Guatemalan plantations have dropped to 1/20th of what they used to be in recent years. The Guatemalan coffee industry ranks #10 in the world producing 3,400,000 - 60 kilos bags from 276,500 hectares of valuable and irreplaceable farmland.

Mr. Jean Ekobo, President/CEO of BioNovelus, Inc. is traveling to Guatemala to personally oversee the launch of several CR-10 tests. While there, he will also meet with executives of the World Coffee Research Institute in Guatemala City, and with the owner of Soluagro, a Central America leader in the coffee and food packaging.

BioNovelus-Costa Rica, a subsidiary of BioNovelus, Inc., is fully registered before the Costa Rican Public Registry. BioNovelus-C.R., is the new regional headquarters for BioNovelus, Inc.’s growing operation in Central America.

BioNovelus-C.R. has retained Mr. Enrique Calderon as a regional manager. Mr. Calderon has assumed various positions in the coffee industry. He is an expert in coffee production and trade, and is well-known in the industry. Mr. Calderon will be responsible for obtaining the registrations of CR-10 in all Central American countries, and in Mexico and Colombia. He will be instrumental in the commercialization of CR-10 in Central America, Mexico and Colombia. Also, he will oversee pilot testing and represent BioNovelus in conversations and certain negotiations with potential distributors in the region.