Farmer access to microbe-based nitrogen fixation product expands globally

Date:04-01-2022

Corteva Agriscience has been named the exclusive distributor of a nitrogen-fixation product for both specialty growers and row crop farmers by biotechnological company Symborg, the companies announced on March 31.  The agreement builds on established collaborations for Corteva to distribute Symborg’s unique endophytic bacterium under the brand names BlueN™ or Utrisha™ N nutrient efficiency optimizer.

By fixing nitrogen from the air and converting it for plants, the technology provides a sustainable, alternative source of nitrogen that reduces dependency on nitrogen uptake from the soil and ensures the plant has access to nitrogen all season long. This nitrogen management solution can help farmers and growers maximize yield potential for a broad range of crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, field and row crops, sugar cane, turf and ornamental, and range and pasture.

“Utrisha N exemplifies Corteva Agriscience’s commitment to provide farmers with sustainable solutions that complement our conventional crop protection solutions. As an alternative, supplemental nitrogen source, it’s also an innovative resource for farmers to help to mitigate high fertilizer cost and market availability,” said Susanne Wasson, President, Crop Protection Business Platform, Corteva Agriscience. “Corteva Agriscience is excited to work with Symborg to scale up and bring farmers this innovative, natural-origin solution.”

The expanded agreement includes exclusive distribution rights to Corteva in Turkey, Central America, and South America, and expands exclusive distribution rights to add specialty markets in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina. It also includes an exclusive option for Corteva to add other countries of interest, including additional countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific, pending regulatory approval.

"At Symborg, we help farmers to efficiently adapt to the changes the industry is undergoing worldwide, leading the transformation of the agricultural model towards a profitable and sustainable one. With this global agreement with Corteva, Symborg's disruptive biotechnology and its innovative bacterium Methylobacterium symbioticum will offer a large number of growers the possibility of optimizing the use of nitrogen in their agricultural management. This is one of the great challenges of today's agriculture and biotechnology is undoubtedly part of the solution," said Jesús Juárez, founding partner and CEO at Symborg.

Corteva’s global Biologicals portfolio is dedicated to developing biostimulants, biocontrol and pheromone products with proven, predictable performance. Utrisha™ N, a BlueN™ technology powered by Symborg, will provide value through integrated nutrition management efficiency and enhancing yield potential and sustainability, in line with the Corteva Agriscience’s sustainability commitment.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.