DAVIS, Calif., Nov. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ: MBII) (MBI), an international leader in sustainable bioprotection and plant health solutions, today announced positive results for the 2019 field trials for its novel bioherbicide, known as MBI-015.
Field tests conducted in 2019 using commercial rates for Marrone Bio’s novel bioherbicide demonstrated control of a target weed approaching that of a current post-emergent chemical herbicide. At commercial rates across multiple trial locations that used uniform protocols, control of palmer amaranth was evaluated at three stages of growth, 7-to-10 days after MBI-015 was applied. Control ranged from the mid-70s to the high-80s percent ranges.
Palmer amaranth is a noxious weed that has spread rapidly, and has developed resistance to eight herbicidal modes of action.1 Left unchecked, this weed can lead to dramatic yield losses in crops such as corn and soybeans.
“Our decision to make a strategic investment in further research for MBI-015 has been validated by these positive 2019 field trials,” said Dr. Pam Marrone, chief executive officer of Marrone Bio Innovations. “These results give us the confidence to move forward with a product that we expect to be a valuable tool in a grower’s integrated pest management system, as well as in our BioUnite™ program.” BioUnite is a proprietary Marrone Bio program that gives growers options to harness the power of its biological solutions with the performance of conventional products.
The company also has been issued U.S. Patent 8,822,193, which covers claims related to pre- and post-emergent herbicidal activity to control weeds for its bioherbicide. Additional regulatory and patent submissions are planned for both MBI-015, a liquid formulation for use in conventional crops, and MBI-014, a granular formulation of the bioherbicide targeted for organic use. The company also holds patents related to the underlying bacteria used in the bioherbicide and its associated pesticidal compounds.
“These positive results will be the basis for additional research to ensure crop tolerance, test for additional weed control and prove effective commercial use in growers’ integrated pest management systems,” Dr. Marrone added. “Growers continue to seek alternative tools to address the growing challenge of weed resistance. We believe there is significant opportunity for a bioherbicide to be part of that solution in the $24 billion global herbicide market2.”
Industry Background
According to the Internal Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds, there are currently 505 unique cases of herbicide resistant weeds globally, with 259 species. Weeds have evolved resistance to 23 of the 26 known herbicide modes of action and to 167 different herbicides. Herbicide resistant weeds have been reported in 93 crops in 70 countries.
Palmer amaranth has developed resistance to eight modes of action, including to such herbicides as glyphosate, atrazine, sulfonylureas and dinitroanilines.
1International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds
2Phillips McDougall
About Marrone Bio Innovations
Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (NASDAQ: MBII) is a growth-oriented company leading the movement to a more sustainable world through the discovery, development and sale of innovative biological products for crop protection, plant health and waterway systems treatment that help customers operate more sustainably while increasing their return on investment. MBI has screened over 18,000 microorganisms and 350 plant extracts, leveraging its in-depth knowledge of plant and soil microbiomes enhanced by advanced molecular technologies and natural product chemistry to rapidly develop seven product lines. Supported by a robust portfolio of over 400 issued and pending patents, MBI’s currently available commercial products are Regalia®, Stargus®, Grandevo®, Venerate®, Majestene®, Haven® and Amplitude®, Zelto® Jet-Oxide®, Jet-Ag® and Zequanox®, with a breakthrough bioherbicide and biofumigant in the Company’s product pipeline. MBI’s Finland-based subsidiary Pro Farm® employs a proprietary technology derived from wood waste to stimulate plant growth and improve plant health, resulting in improved yields and crop quality. Products include the seed treatment and bionutrient/biostimulant products UBP-110®, Foramin®, LumiBio™, LumiBio Valta™, and LumiBio Kelta.™
Learn more about Marrone Bio Innovations at www.marronebio.com. We also use our investor relations website, https://investors.marronebio.com, as well as our corporate Twitter account, @Marronebio, as means of disclosing material non-public information, and encourage our investors and others to monitor and review the information we make public in these locations. Follow us on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Marrone Bio Innovations Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations and plans, including assumptions underlying such statements, are forward-looking statements, and should not be relied upon as representing MBI’s views as of any subsequent date. Examples of such statements include the potential of MBI-014 and MBI-015 for weed control. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date of this release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements, including weather, regulatory and other factors affecting demand for the MBI’s products, any difficulty in marketing MBI’s products in its target markets, competition in the market for pest management products, lack of understanding of bio-based pest management products by customers and growers. Additional information that could lead to material changes in MBI’s performance is contained in its filings with the SEC. MBI is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a result of current information, future events or otherwise.
Marrone Bio Innovations Contacts:
Pam Marrone, CEO and Founder
Telephone: +1 (530) 750-2800
Email: Info@marronebio.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Greg Falesnik, Managing Director
MZ Group – MZ North America
Main: 949-385-6449
MBII@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us