b"PARTNER CONTENTFungus and PlantsCollaborating for Growth By: Ben Arends, JABB of the Carolinas VP of Production and MarketingW hat began as a solution for pest problems in poultryes plant growth, improves stress tolerance, and enhances nutri-barns has grown into a game-changer for plant healthent use efficiency. Anyone interested in the science behind what across diverse crops. With JABBs innovative Beauveriawe are seeing in the fields should look for Lara Jaber and Bonnie bassiana formulation, we offer a proven solution for plant vigor,Ownleys research as a solid starting point.health, and quality. Backed by science and yielding consistent re- Essentially, it functions like vitamin C for plants. Because it sults, our product has evolved into a valuable resource for farmerscolonizes the entire plantroots, stems and leavesit creates a seeking to push the limits in crop production.network that allows nutrients to move more efficiently through My uncle, Jim Arends, started this journey about ten years agothe plant. It also enhances communication within the plant, al-and I joined in early 2022. As a small, family-run operation withlowing improved adaptation to environmental stresses.deep roots in entomology, weve built this company by focusingOur product is different than others on the market. While most on innovation and responding directly to farmers needs. B. bassiana strains are derived from insects, our B. bassiana is Now were ready to take the next step. Through partnershipsourced from plants, leading to enhanced plant colonization and and collaboration, we aim to extend the benefits of B. bassiana tobetter performance compared to insect-derived strains.even more fields, providing growers with healthier, more produc- Farmers sharing success stories through word of mouth has tive crops and offering innovative options for the seed industry. fueled our exponential growth, with nearly a million acres treated The leap from poultry barn to field crops occurred when aannually. Now, we're ready to take it even further. board member was struggling with his organic wheat. He appliedTodays farmers are looking for something to make their the formulation developed by my uncle for pest control in poultrycrops stand out. B. bassiana allows for impressive results while to his fields, resulting in one of his best wheat crops After repeat- not adding to chemical load on their crops. One of our formula-ing this trial on familys fields, and seeing similar results, mytions, EndoShield ST, is designed for seed treatment. It can also be uncle reformulated the product for crop applications. combined with other treatments without degrading its efficacy. While some biostimulants only colonize around the roots of aTo further expand the reach of our products, we are exploring op-plant, B. bassiana functions as a systemic endophyte, living insideportunities for partnership and collaboration. the plants. It enhances nutrient flow, photosynthesis, and overallCollaboration leads to mutual growth. Companies gain an plant health. And it isnt picky. Every crop it has been applied to,edge, farmers gain healthier crops, and the agriculture commu-from potatoes to cereal crops to vegetables and fruit trees seenity benefits from more resilient, high yielding plants. similar improvements.By combining innovation with scientific rigor, were working Anecdotal evidence is compelling, but my uncle and I bothto expand the reach of B. bassiana through partnerships with seed hold degrees in entomology, and we turned to science to deter- treatment companies. If advancing sustainable agriculture and mine why we were seeing these impressive results.supporting healthier crops resonates with you, lets connect to Studies on various crops have shown that B. bassiana increas- explore the possibilities.FEBRUARY 2025SEEDWORLD.COM /33"