UPL and Agrauxine by Lesaffre announce agreement to develop and commercialize microbial bio-control technology in United States

UPL, a global leader in sustainable agriculture solutions, announces a strategic collaboration with Agrauxine by Lesaffre, a subsidiary of Lesaffre company specializing in biological crop solutions. The exclusive license and supply agreement will allow UPL to commercialize a new biocontrol technology from Agrauxine in the United States.

UPL is the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of biosolutions, and last year launched Natural Plant Protection (NPP), a new global business unit championing UPL’s comprehensive portfolio of natural and biologically derived agriculture inputs and technologies. The collaboration with Agrauxine broadens the biological offerings that NPP will deliver in the United States. A new biocontrol technology from the collaboration is awaiting U.S. EPA registration, expected later in 2022.

Agrauxine by Lesaffre is a business unit of Lesaffre, a key global player in fermentation for more than a century. Based in France, Agrauxine develops, manufactures and commercializes biosolutions from selected natural strains of fungi, bacteria and yeast microorganisms.

“Agrauxine is a recognized global innovator in the development of sustainable solutions derived from microorganisms that address critical challenges of growers,” says Jim Petta, Natural Plant Protection Head, North America. “This partnership is a natural for us, and it’s a collaboration that will strengthen our BioSolutions product pipeline to deliver enhanced value for U.S. growers.”

Says Hugo Bony, CEO, Agrauxine by Lesaffre, “We have strong ambitions for growth in the U.S. market. We’re looking forward to our partnership with UPL to deliver this new biocontrol technology derived from microorganisms that will help growers overcome crop stresses during germination, emergence and early plant growth.”

The agreement marks the second collaboration between the two companies. In 2021, Agrauxine by Lesaffre and DECCO, a UPL company and global leader in post-harvest solutions, announced the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement whereby DECCO will distribute Nexy^® biofungicide in select countries for control of key post-harvest pathogens in pome fruit, citrus and bananas.