Marrone Bio seed treatments demonstrate improved yields and cost-effective control

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBII) (MBI), an international leader in sustainable bioprotection and plant health solutions, announced on December 9 that its 2019 field trial results for biology-based seed treatments in Europe demonstrated improved yields and cost-effective control of soil insects and nematodes that are equivalent to or better than current industry standards.

Additionally, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Pro Farm Technology OY (Pro Farm), has demonstrated significant benefits to growers when its patented Foramin^® nutrient technology is used in conjunction with conventional or biology-based seed treatments. Foramin offers growers enhanced plant physiology, reduced plant stress, and improved yields and crop quality. 

Results from recent yield and stress tolerance trials will be presented by Kalle Virta, director of research and development for Pro Farm, at the “Exceed The Seed” event during the American Seed Trade Association meeting on December 9, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

“The past growing season marked our first international tests – including in the European Union – of the Marrone Bio suite of seed- and soil-applied products,” said Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Hammill. “These bioprotection products complement Pro Farm’s existing portfolio of plant health products. With Pro Farm’s broad international distribution capabilities, we expect to bring to more growers the benefits of MBI’s technology and broad bioprotection product portfolio.”

Marrone Bio’s and Pro Farm’s family of seed and soil treatment products are currently available to growers through its distribution and seed company partners in the United States, Canada, Uruguay and Europe with near term expansion into India, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and CIS region for use in a wide variety of crops including corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, barley, sunflower, oilseed rape and vegetables.

MBI European Seed Treatment Field Trial Results

Corn seed treatment trials testing MBI-203 and MBI-206 for corn root worm and nematode control showed yield gains against both the untreated control and a currently used chemical option.  When compared with the current treatment, yield gains as high as 35 percent were observed when used at commercial application rates.

Pro Farm Stress-Tolerance Greenhouse and Field Trial Results

Pro Farm tested its Foramin products for 18 different stress parameters across multiple growth stages for barley and wheat in both greenhouse and field conditions in Europe throughout 2019.  Foramin is designed to be used in combination with a standard conventional seed treatment package. The Foramin products include both a seed treatment and a foliar applied product.

Last season’s results from barley and wheat field trials in Latin America showed yield increases in barley ranging from 2.1 percent to 6.7 percent; and in wheat from 9.0 percent to 14.3 percent. At current commodity prices, these yield gains would add approximately $8 to $26 per acre in revenue for barley growers, and approximately $44 to $68 per acre in revenue for wheat growers.