Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. has entered into a partnership with ATP Nutrition of Manitoba to distribute Stargus Biofungicide on Canadian broadacre crops; primarily canola, dry beans, peas, soybeans and sunflower. These products represent more than 30 million acres in Canada where the biocontrol market is estimated to be growing at 12-15% CAGR.
“We are very pleased to partner with ATP Nutrition; a best-in-class distributor with strong market share and a respected reputation with Canadian farmers,” states Kevin Helash, chief executive officer of Marrone Bio Innovations. “This partnership complements our existing distribution in Canadian specialty crops and, as we look to expand globally, allows us to bring additional broad acre crop products to the market more efficiently.”
Stargus Biofungicide is a broad spectrum product with multiple modes of action powered by a novel, patented strain of formulated Bacillus bacteria. The biofungicide effectively targets white mold and stalk rots caused by Sclerotinia, common diseases in some of the most dominant broad acre crops in Canada.
“Expanding our distribution into broadacre crops globally is a key commercial strategy for Marrone Bio in 2021,” adds Tim Knight, Marrone Bio’s senior director of sales, North and Central America. “Growers are looking for alternative solutions to manage crop disease and field trials have shown using a BioUnite approach, combining the power of biology with the performance of chemistry and tank mixing Stargus Biofungicide with a standard fungicide, will produce better control and increased yields.”
ATP Nutrition is a science-based company that focuses on the three key areas of production agriculture: plant nutrition, biostimulants (biologicals) and analytical tools.
“We are committed to provide biological options for growers that drive yield in a sustainable way. The ATP Nutrition and Marrone partnership is a natural fit since the synergistic effect of combining biological and biostimulant products with nutrient products will improve both nutrient uptake and use efficiency while addressing abiotic stresses,” adds Jarrett Chambers, president of ATP Nutrition.
ATP’s broad coverage in the Canadian marketplace, working closely with all of the major retail and distributor channels, will ensure growers have immediate access to Stargus Biofungicide and additional products as they are approved by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
