MustGrow announces non-selective bio-herbicide patent filing and supportive efficacy claims

MustGrow Biologics Corp. (the "Company", "MustGrow"), an agricultural biotech company developing and commercializing a portfolio of natural, science-based biological crop protection products, announced the filing of patents related to method-of-use and composition-of-matter claims for a biological non-selective bio-herbicide, based on MustGrow’s signature mustard-derived approach to controlling unwanted pests and diseases.
 

MustGrow has completed a series of application rate tests with Canada’s National Research Council to determine the applicability of MustGrow’s natural mustard-derived technology as a bio-pesticide. Using multiple application methods, herbicidal control was achieved after only 72 hours – controlling the trial plants from the root up. This strong data validates MustGrow’s natural science-based approach, utilizing the mustard seed’s natural defence mechanism, not only as a bio-pesticide, but also as a bio-herbicide.
 

MustGrow’s intellectual property suite is a platform for several crop protection categories, aiming to disrupt global agriculture markets that have traditionally been dominated by chemistry-based products. This filing enhances MustGrow’s current patent portfolio covering many crop protection categories.  MustGrow’s existing patent portfolio protects both method-of-use and composition-of-matter claims for MustGrow’s signature mustard-derived approach to controlling unwanted pests, diseases, and now weeds.
 

“The efficacious properties of our active ingredient as a bio-pesticide, bio-nematicide and bio-herbicide represent a key milestone for MustGrow,” remarked MustGrow COO Colin Bletsky. 
“MustGrow has plans to further expand our data set and focus testing on hard to kill and herbicide-resistant weeds as well as to expand applications of our remarkable natural mustard-based technology.”
 

Global Herbicides Market
 

According to industry intelligence group Phillips McDougall, the global herbicides market remained the dominant crop protection category in 2018, accounting for 42.7% of crop protection sales – $24.6 billion (+5.9% y/y). This market is expected to grow by $8.9 billion through 2023 (Source: Technavio).
 

The need for bio-herbicides is increasing as farmers, consumers and regulators seek alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides.  The dangers associated with synthetic chemical overuse is pushing these groups to naturally-sourced bio-herbicides, which are known for safe, environmentally-sustainable and consumer-friendly profile characteristics.