Marrone Bio Innovations signs commercial agreement with Anasac Chile S.A. for Grandevo and Venerate bioinsecticides in Chile

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBII) (MBI), a leading provider of effective and environmentally responsible pest management and plant health products, announced on Monday the signing of a commercial agreement with Anasac Chile S.A. to develop and distribute GRANDEVO^® Bioinsecticide and VENERATE^® Bioinsecticide in Chile.

Anasac is a leading Chilean agricultural inputs provider, committed to agricultural productivity and its people. Since 1948 Anasac has been a leader in delivering solutions that enable growth for its customers. Anasac has more than 17% share of the $440 million Chilean crop protection market, and is the second largest player in plant nutrition and corn seed in Chile as well, among other business lines in the agricultural & livestock markets.

The production of fruits and vegetables in Chile was 7.9 million metric tons in 2018. Within South America, Chile is responsible for 60% of all fruit exports. Chile is the leading exporter of fresh blueberries, grapes, plums, dried apples and prunes. It is also the second largest exporter of avocados, cherries, walnuts, and raspberries. Grape is the leading fruit followed by apples and blueberries.

Anasac’s initial focus will be in table grapes, stone fruit and tomatoes for thrips, mealybug, oriental moth, San Jose scale and whitefly control where both products have proven highly effective in official field studies and will be of great value to its customers.

Both bioinsecticides offered by MBI provide resistance management in integrated program, while not harming beneficial insects and pollinators. They are also exempt from food tolerance requirements which helps growers manage the residue levels on exported crops.

Dr. Pam Marrone, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Marrone Bio Innovations, commented, “We continue executing on our growth plans with international expansion in key row crops and specialty crop markets. We are pleased to have a clear leader such as Anasac as our Chilean partner.”

Gabriel Ormeño H., Anasac Chile’s General Manager, said, “We are excited to work with MBI, and to introduce effective, novel biological products like GRANDEVO and VENERATE into integrated pest management programs and for residue and resistance management in Chile’s important fruit production and export markets.

GRANDEVO is an advanced broad-spectrum bioinsecticide that offers protection against chewing and sucking insects and mites including mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, Lygus bug, armyworms and other pests. The active ingredients in GRANDEVO bioinsecticide is a novel species of non-living bacteria that produce insecticidal compounds during the fermentation manufacturing process. Grandevo repels, stops feeding and reduces egg laying of pest insects and mites.

VENERATE Bionsecticide features multiple modes of action and is effective against a wide variety of chewing and sucking insects and mites. The active ingredient is also a non-living, novel microbial species that produces several active compounds. These compounds provide control by exoskeleton degradation and molting interference; control of the pests is achieved through exposure and ingestion of the product.