Monsanto and AgriMetis enter global licensing agreement to drive novel insect control solutions

Date:03-22-2018

Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) and AgriMetis, LLC have announced an exclusive collaboration for Monsanto’s continued research with AgriMetis’ SpinoMetis™ platform, which includes novel insect protection compounds derived from a naturally-occurring bacterium. The SpinoMetis platform builds on the established safety and efficacy profiles of other products of the same origin to provide a semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum approach to controlling key insect pests in agriculture. In early research, the platform has been shown to be comparable or superior to commercial comparators in trials evaluating performance against lepidopteran, hemipteran, and other pests.

“Our initial lab testing with the SpinoMetis platform showed promising results in insects of economic significance for farmers, so our team is eager to expand our evaluations to the field,” said Dr. Jeremy Williams, Monsanto agricultural productivity innovations lead. “Monsanto is committed to developing sustainable modern agriculture solutions to help growers address the challenges they face each growing season, and this platform has the potential to provide enhanced insect protection while maintaining a safe environment for mammals and pollinators.”

The agreement includes an exclusive global license from AgriMetis to Monsanto for agricultural research in row, vegetable, and other crops for a three-year period, as well as an option for Monsanto to acquire exclusive commercial rights at the end of the term. AgriMetis is a company focused on discovering novel agrochemicals based on fermentative and/or synthetic improvements for crop protection.

“We are very excited to work with Monsanto on this solution-driven technology. The SpinoMetis platform is the first of several new crop protection molecules that AgriMetis plans to bring to the global crop protection industry,” commented Steven Tuttle, AgriMetis President and CEO. “The SpinoMetis platform validates AgriMetis’ methodology to discover, develop and deliver innovative chemical solutions for global agricultural industry partners.”