RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., July 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AgBiome, LLC, today announced it has established AgBiome Innovations™, which will commercialize technology identified by the company through its unique Genesis™ discovery and development platform. The division is led by a highly experienced team of agricultural and turf and ornamental industry leaders and is gearing up to launch its first product, a broad-spectrum biological fungicide, in early 2017.
"For us, it's always been about finding efficacious, environmentally friendly ways to help growers get more out of their crops," says Dr. Phil Hammer, director of research. "Our team has isolated, sequenced and screened thousands of microbes, and discovered multiple new mode-of-action traits and highly effective biologicals. By establishing AgBiome Innovations and attracting a stellar team to lead it, we are taking the next critical steps to ensure our discoveries are made available to growers with the best possible support and stewardship."
The Team
To help launch the new AgBiome Innovations unit, the company has recruited some of the best industry leaders in business and research. These individuals have proven track records in leading successful businesses and bringing new traits as well as synthetic and biological products to the market. The AgBiome Innovations team includes:
The First Product
AgBiome Innovations is developing a broad-spectrum, biological fungicide that is currently in regulatory review at EPA. This product demonstrates efficacy superior to any previously available biological fungicide as extensive trials have shown performance similar to, or better than, synthetic fungicides for controlling brown patch and other Rhizoctonia diseases, Pythiumblight and other Pythium root rots, Botrytis (gray mold), and several other common pathogens. Product launch, pending EPA registration, is scheduled for early 2017 for turf and ornamental applications.
"It's exciting to see our discoveries taken up by the AgBiome Innovation team," says Dr. Kelly Smith, AgBiome's Director of Microbials Development. "There's no better feeling than seeing our efforts in the lab prove out in the field and get in the hands of growers."
About AgBiome
AgBiome discovers and develops innovative biological and trait products for protecting crops. Its proprietary Genesis™ discovery platform comprises the world's largest, most diverse, fully-sequenced collection of microbes, coupled to industry-best screens for insect, disease and nematode control activity. Better microbes. Better crops. Better world.