Marrone Bio Innovations Submits Two Biopesticides To EPA

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|4 March 2010

DAVIS, California, US — Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) has submitted two new agricultural biopesticides to the US EPA for registration, the company announced via press release. The first submission is “the first bacterial-based insecticide to be introduced since Bt,” according to Pam Marrone, CEO and founder of MBI. The bioinsecticide’s source is a licensed bacterium discovered at the USDA‘s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Lab and field studies on MBI’s insecticide show broad-spectrum activity on on both sucking and chewing insects, such as whitefly, spider mite, diamondback moth, cabbage looper, tobacco budworm and Lygus bugs.

MBI’s second EPA submission is a bioherbicide, based on a lead obtained from a novel marine microbe originally discovered by and licensed from DuPont Crop Protection. The product kills broadleaf weeds such as redstem and waterplantain, as well as sedge affecting yields in rice production, with additional market opportunities in turf, wheat and other cereal crops.

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Also at the EPA is MBI’s new biomolluscicide, Zequanox, which provides effective, environmentally-sound control of invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which is currently anticipating final regulatory approval in 2010.

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