FMC/MBI pen Lat Am biofungicide deal

FMC and US biopesticide company Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI – Davis, California) have agreed a development and distribution deal for the latter’s Regalia Maxx biofungicide in Latin America. Regalia Maxx is based on an extract of giant knotweed ( Reynoutria sachalinensis), providing fungal and bacterial disease control. Regalia Maxx is a more concentrated formulation than the established knotweed extract-based Regalia, containing 20% against 5% for the older product. FMC’s Latin America area director Antonio Zem rates Regalia Maxx as an “outstanding” biological product. The company is to develop “improved formulations and pre-mix products in collaboration with MBI”, he adds. The biofungicide has just been approved for use on fruit and vegetables in Mexico, with sales expected to start in December this year (see this issue).