Top 10 biologicals news in February 2021

Below are the most-viewed news regarding biostimulant/biopesticide products, companies, regulation and research that were published on AgroPages in February 2021.

Symborg inaugurates new headquarters in Brazil and consolidates international expansion

Symborg reinforces its international expansion strategy with the recently inaugurated headquarters in Brazil. The leading company in agricultural biotechnology thus reinforces its presence in America, adding Brazil to the branches that Symborg already has in the USA, Mexico, Chile and Peru. Symborg is also present in Europe, with headquarters in Spain, France and Turkey, and in Asia with a subsidiary in China. 

The person responsible for leading Symborg's presence in Brazil is Adriano Roland, a Brazilian professional with more than 23 years of experience in the sector. Roland has developed his career in global companies such as FMC, Dupont and Milenia (Adama).

2020 Record registration numbers confirmed the highly promising growth potential of the Brazilian biocontrol market

Brazil is a country of a huge territory with abundant resources. Up for today according to Crop Life Brasil we have around 20 Million ha treated with Biological Products, growing 23% in 2020 when compared to 2019. The market around these products is not only being used to horticultural fruit, but also in big numbers with major crops as soybean, cotton, sugar cane and maize. 

At the very end of 2020, MAPA´s Act Nº70 (12/23/20) has confirmed the highly promising results for the biological control market for the next years with the final approval of the last 19 low toxicity products of the year, totaling 411 registered low toxicity products due to government incentives, as in important tool to make the Brazilian agriculture much more sustainable.

Baicao’s spinosad seizes cash crop market in China

Established in 2010, Henan Baicao Biotech Co., Ltd. (Baicao) focuses on the R&D and production of biopesticides derived by fermentation. Since its establishment, Baicao has invested heavily in the R&D and production of spinosad and now owns practical technologies, such as engineering strains and production processes with independent intellectual property rights, which are pioneering in China. Spinosad is the flagship product of Baicao, and its R&D was granted the Pesticide Innovation Contribution Award by the China Crop Protection Industry Association (CCPIA) in 2017.

Timorex Act biofungicide now registered in Mexico with Syngenta as exclusive distributor

STK bio-ag technologies, Israel’s innovative leader in botanical-based organic and hybrid solutions for sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, announces that Timorex^® Act organic bio fungicide is now registered throughout Mexico, with Syngenta as the exclusive distributor.

Timorex^® Act is based on a botanical extract of the tea tree plant. A purely organic formulation, certified by OMRI and Ecocert, Timorex^® Act is highly effective against a broad spectrum of plant diseases in a variety of fruit and vegetable crops, such as anthracnose, powdery mildew, early blight, botrytis, cencicilla. Timorex^® Act is also friendly to pollinators, such as bees, and has been endorsed by the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation in its latest report.  Moreover, Timorex^® Act has no chemical residues whatsoever. 

Ceradis obtains registration for CeraSulfur in Italy, with distribution by its partner De Sangosse

Ceradis Crop Protection B.V. announces its new, innovative bio-sulfur fungicide CeraSulfur has obtained registration in Italy, starting with usage on grapes. Distribution will be done by De Sangosse Italia under the brand name Whisper.

CeraSulfur SC is a groundbreaking product, the first sulfur fungicide derived from agricultural sources. The sulfur is made by bacteria that turn hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a byproduct of biogas production, into elemental sulfur. With the origin of the process being farm waste, this organic and circular (“farm to farm”) sulfur has a different chemical structure and a smaller particle size, making it more effective than conventional sulfur. Also, it has a hydrophilic nature as opposed to conventional sulfur, which is hydrophobic, making it far easier to handle and combine with other products. So CeraSulfur offers the grower a no dust, lower sulfur need, less residue, great mixability and easy tank cleaning application. This unique and patented product was awarded the Bronze Medal at the prestigious 2020 Sival Innovation Competition in France.

How to place a biostimulant on the European market?

In Europe, a harmonized regulation is currently in force for inorganic fertilizers and some liming materials only. Marketing of these products is covered by Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003. All other fertilizing products, including plant biostimulants, are still subject to national regulations. The marketing process for these products follows national rules and the requirements vary from one Member State to another.

Thanks to the work carried out by EBIC and the European Commission, the new Regulation (EU) n°2019/1009, that will fully apply in July 2022, provides a clear definition of biostimulants linked to their function (s) and thereby delineates a frontier with Plant Protection Products.

Corteva Agriscience selects Dadelos Agrosolutions for global commercialization of biostimulants

Corteva Agriscience and Dadelos Agrosolutions, S.L., an affiliate of Ajinomoto Co., Inc., announced an agreement to develop, validate and commercialize biostimulants for farmers around the globe.

Recognized for combining its extensive expertise of biostimulant technologies and their modes of action, Dadelos Agrosolutions develops technologies that achieve desired effects on plant nutrition use efficiency, plant metabolism and stress response.

Syngenta UK: first biostimulant Quantis boost to heat-stressed potatoes

Results of the UK’s most extensive ever trials of a biostimulant in potatoes have shown that Quantis – the first biostimulant from Syngenta – can effectively help plants cope with the impacts of heat stress.

Analysis of the huge data resource from growers’ field trials, independent crop consultants and researchers across the UK has revealed significantly increased yield for crops that were under prolonged heat stress.

UPL to provide Novozymes’ range of innovative biological Ag products in Argentina

UPL and Novozymes, the world leader in biological solutions, announce a partnership to provide a range of biological products to the Argentinian market. Biological products made by Novozymes and marketed under the Nitragin brand will now become part of UPL’s portfolio, providing a complete range of biosolutions and crop protection products.

The relationship between both companies started two years ago with the inclusion of UPL’s Dimension brand fungicide seed treatment in a Nitragin branded line of inoculant products. The positive acceptance of these products in the market has led to the decision to extend the relationship and formalize a partnership under which the Nitragin inoculant portfolio will form part of the range of solutions marketed by UPL.

Researchers find peptide that treats, prevents killer citrus disease

New research affirms a unique peptide found in an Australian plant can destroy the No. 1 killer of citrus trees worldwide and help prevent infection. 

All commercially important citrus varieties are susceptible to HLB, or called citrus greening, and there is no effective tool to treat HLB-positive trees, or to prevent new infections.

However, new UC Riverside research shows that a naturally occurring peptide found in HLB-tolerant citrus relatives, such as Australian finger lime, can not only kill the bacteria that causes the disease, it can also activate the plant’s own immune system to inhibit new HLB infection. Few treatments can do both.