Marrone Bio Innovations Receives 'Best New Biopesticide' at Agrow Awards

LONDON, Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In award ceremonies held Tuesday, November 2, Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (MBI) won the "Best New Biopesticide" category with its Regalia® Biofungicide, a powerful new tool that controls a wide spectrum of fungal and bacterial diseases in numerous crops around the world. Regalia has a unique induced systemic resistance (ISR) mode of action, which causes plants to arm their own defense systems against attacking pathogens.

In hundreds of third-party trials and on-farm demos, Regalia has provided equal or superior disease management when compared with standard fungicide programs. It is used on crops such as citrus, vegetables, leafy greens, tree fruits, grape vines, nuts and ornamentals in which diseases are a constant problem and fungicide resistance to existing chemical fungicides is a continual threat. Regalia's value in increasing yields and crop quality when incorporated into fungicide programs has resulted in multimillion-dollar sales in its first full year of U.S. registration. Regalia is also used for managing chemical residues at harvest by growers who export their crops. Chemical pesticide residues, which are globally regulated, are being further restricted by food retailers in response to consumer pressure, especially in Europe.

Regalia is listed by the U.S. Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in certified organic production, and is therefore an effective tool for both conventional and organic growers.

The Agrow Awards are given annually by London-based Agrow, a leading information provider for the global crop protection industry. Besides Best New Biopesticide, additional award categories include Best New Crop Protection, Most Innovative Chemistry, Best Formulation Innovation and Best Novel Agricultural Biotechnology, with entries coming from around the globe.

The award was accepted at a ceremony in London today by Pam Marrone, CEO and founder. "We are honored to receive this award from a competition that is the premier showcase for leadership in the crop protection and production industry," she said. "It is a sign that innovation is recognized and biopesticides are mainstream crop protection products."

Marrone Bio Innovations discovers, develops and markets effective and environmentally responsible products that fill unmet needs for weed, disease and pest management. MBI's effective and safe products come from a combination of in-licensed technology and its own discovery. The company's own R&D finds naturally occurring microorganisms from unique habitats and develops them into pest management products.  MBI has an impressive pipeline of new products, including two insecticides, two herbicides and Zequanox,™ a product for controlling invasive zebra and quagga mussels in fresh waterways. In addition to Regalia, MBI currently markets GreenMatch® Burndown Herbicide for weed control in organic crop production.

SOURCE Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.