Valent BioSciences Joins the International Phytobiomes Alliance

The International Alliance for Phytobiomes Research announces Valent BioSciences as a new sponsoring partner of the organization.

 

The Phytobiomes Alliance is an international, nonprofit consortium of academic institutions, private companies, and government agencies. The Alliance facilitates and coordinates international efforts toward expanding phytobiomes research to accelerate the sustainable production of food, feed, and fiber for food security.

 

Phytobiomes research is a holistic system-level approach focused on the complex interactions between plants, microorganisms, soils, climate, environment, and management practices. The term “Phytobiome” refers to a plant growing within a specific environment, or biome; it includes the plant itself, and all micro- and macro-organisms living in, on, or around the plant—such as microbes, animals, insects, and other plants—as well as the environment, which includes soil, air, water, weather, and climate.

 

Valent BioSciences is a global leader in the research, development and commercialization of biorational products – low environmental impact substances, typically biologically-derived, used in agriculture, public health, forest health, aquaculture, turf, structural pest control, and home and garden markets.

 

Biorationals include biopesticides as well as non-pesticidal products, such as those that are used for crop stress management, enhanced plant physiology benefits, root growth management, postharvest or as an alternative control agent to pesticides and antimicrobials.

 

“At Valent BioSciences, we pride ourselves on our strong commitment to research and development,” says Warren Shafer, Vice President of Global R&D and Regulatory Affairs with Valent BioSciences. “The partnership with the Phytobiomes Alliance will allow for furthered collaboration with forward-thinking individuals to meet growing agricultural demands.”

 

Marci Surpin, Manager of Crop Enhancement Research, will represent Valent BioSciences in the Alliance Coordinating Committee. This Committee identifies research, resource and technology gaps, establishes priorities, and develops strategic plans to achieve Alliance goals.

 

“Valent BioSciences have an impressive track record on delivering high quality biorational products to growers for almost twenty years,” says Kellye Eversole, the Alliance Executive Director. “In addition to their experience and knowledge of crop protection and enhancement, I am especially excited to have their expertise in developing biological products for forest health as forests around the world are threatened due to changing climates that result in increased risk of fire and increased pests and pathogen invasion.”

 

Over the next decades, the United Nations predicts that the world population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. A major paradigm shift in agricultural production is needed to produce enough food for this growing population in a sustainable way, while preserving biodiversity and natural resources. By establishing a foundation of knowledge on how phytobiome components interact and affect each other, the Phytobiomes Alliance aims at addressing these challenges.