Valent BioSciences Acquires Mycorrhizal Fungi Products Business

Posted by Dan Jacobs|4 March 2015

Valent BioSciences Corp. has acquired Mycorrhizal Applications LLC, a U.S. producer of mycorrhizal fungal inoculum. Valent BioSciences is wholly owned by Valent U.S.A. Corp., a which is a fully owned U.S. subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical.

Mycorrhizal fungi are microorganisms in soil that colonize plant roots and enable plants to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. Mycorrhizal fungi allow farmers to use less irrigation and fertilization, which can decrease crop protection costs. The markets for mycorrhizal fungal inoculum products are expected to continue growing in the years ahead, as they enhance plant productivity especially under abiotic stress condition and help secure a stable supply of farm products.

The entry into the mycorrhizal fungi business will further broaden the Sumitomo Chemical Group’s product portfolio and provide greater value to customers. Sumitomo Chemical aims to expand sales in this business by leveraging the extensive marketing and distribution networks that the Group companies have built over the years.