DPH Biologicals releases U.S. EPA registered biological seed treatment

To meet demand for sustainable crop protection, DPH Biologicals launched a multi-action biofungicide seed treatment - BellaTrove™ Companion Maxx ST - that helps seedlings fight pathogens and ensures healthy root systems.

BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST is derived from DPH Biologicals’ proprietary strain of a plantstimulating rhizobacterium. The EPA-registered OMRI-certified biofungicide and bactericide stimulates a plant’s natural defenses against pathogens while improving nutrient uptake and root health. BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST offers greater value to organic and conventional
growers at a time when input costs continue to increase.

″With BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST, growers finally get a biological seed treatment in a scientifically proven formulation wrapping crop fertility, stress reduction and disease suppression up in one easy-to-use, farmer-friendly package,″ said Mick Messman, president and CEO at DPH Biologicals and former director of global seed treatment for DuPont.

The emerging biological seed treatment market is growing rapidly, predicted to record a 12.7% CAGR over the next seven years and reach an estimated $3.59 billion global market share by 2029, according to a new market research report. Growers are turning to biological seed treatments to meet increasing needs for more sustainable ways to optimize yield, increase plants’ ability to respond to abiotic stress and protect against pests and disease.

While DPH Biologicals is known for its liquid biofertilizer SP-1 Classic, BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST leverages the company’s seed-applied technology expertise and biological innovation as part of its overall biocontrol technology platform.

″Seed treatments have become a routine part of many farm operations, but very few biological seed treatments have delivered the same consistent performance. With our team’s deep experience introducing seed-applied technologies for the majors, we know growers are willing to try new products if we show them it works,″ Messman said, who is one of several leaders at the company with seed-applied technology expertise having helped establish the category.

After hiring several leaders in biologicals, DPH Biologicals expanded its technical bench with the addition of Cliff Watrin, who led the development of seed treatments for Winfield United and Syngenta. ″Farmers continue to want a broad range of crop protection options. Companion remains one of the most trusted and proven products available – now in a seed treatment.″

The product uses DPH Biologicals’ proprietary ENV503 strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a well-studied rhizobacteria known for its fast colonization of emerging seedlings root hairs and leaves and its production of a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic with strong antifungal activity. Peer-reviewed studies of biologically identical rhizobacterium have proven B. amyloliquefaciens’ ability to suppress fungal pathogens by more than 80% and double root growth as compared to untreated seeds.

An excellent stand-alone product, studies have shown that combining BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST with traditional chemical fungicides produces even superior results while simultaneously reducing the pesticidal resistance often seen with commonly used chemical fungicides. BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST has been specially formulated to easily mix with other crop nutrients or protection products and can be applied via a slurry, a planter box or a hopper box.

The 4th Biopesticides, Biostimulants and Novel Fertilizers International Summit (BioEx 2023) will take place on 9th & 10th March in Hangzhou, China.