Advanced Biological Marketing awarded National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research grant

Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM) has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to conduct research and development work aimed at developing formulations of a new class of biorational chemicals that are based on chemical communicants from plant symbiotic fungi. These new products are expected to provide season-long improvements in plant productivity, including greater crop yields, enhanced root growth, and resistance to a variety of stresses including drought. The products induce plants to use sunlight more efficiently and thereby provide greater plant biomass. This project builds on the discovery that selected biorational fungal metabolites increase plant productivity and stress resistance even when applied at very low concentrations and provide season-long effects on plants long after the application. The new products will augment ABM’s products based on advanced microbial agents that colonize plant roots. They will permit new applications and add versatility to the product line.