Vitales collaborates with Ginkgo to launch advanced biocontrol products for Brazilian agriculture

Ginkgo Bioworks has announced a new partnership with Vitales, a subsidiary of Uby Agro, to accelerate the development and launch of two new Generation 1 biocontrol products.

These innovative products aim to combat critical soybean diseases in Brazil, including Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and target spot, caused by the pathogens Fusarium virguliforme and Corynespora cassiicola, respectively.

Leveraging Ginkgo’s extensive strain collection, the strains selected for Vitales previously underwent rigorous in vitro and in planta screenings so that Vitales can introduce these biocontrol solutions to the market more swiftly. This partnership showcases Ginkgo’s capability to provide pre-validated strain assets, allowing for a faster product development cycle. Additionally, Ginkgo’s expertise in formulation will enable the development of various prototype formulations, such as seed treatments and foliar applications, specifically tailored for the unique needs of Brazilian agriculture.

The growing bioinputs market, which includes control products, inoculants, biostimulants, and solubilizers, is especially vital for Brazilian agriculture. According to Kynetec, a firm that tracks agricultural inputs, biocontrol products have enjoyed an average growth rate of 35% a year for the past five seasons and now constitute 4.2% of the entire crop protection market. This surge highlights the importance of developing sustainable agricultural solutions.

"The Vitales-Ginkgo partnership is a natural fit, combining Vitales’ deep understanding of Brazilian agriculture with our 25 years of expertise in biocontrol product development. This collaboration underscores Ginkgo’s dedication to supporting innovation in the Brazilian bioinput market, providing growers with effective, sustainable agricultural products."

MAGALIE GUILHABERT, HEAD OF AG BIOLOGICALS, GINKGO BIOWORKS

"Partnering with Ginkgo allows us to accelerate our timeline for bringing vital new biocontrol solutions to market. Ginkgo’s expertise in fermentation and formulation, with teams working collaboratively under the same roof, will speed up the development of economically viable product concepts. Ultimately, we hope that this collaboration will mark a significant step in our mission to provide Brazilian growers with effective, sustainable agricultural products."

FERNANDO EDUARDO ALVES DE SOUSA, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, VITALES