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Meet this year’s winning product !
The winner of the 2018 Bernard Blum Award is Burkholderia by Marrone Bio Innovations, a new species of non-living bacteria, which produces several natural compounds. Congratulations for producing this innovative solution which works threefold: as a nematicide, a herbicide and an insecticide !
Find here the presentation on the winning product given by Pam Marrone on 22 October at ABIM.
Visit the Bernard Blum booth number 6 at ABIM or booth number 22 for Marrone !
The Bernard Blum Silver Award for the second-ranked product was received by Plant Health Products, an Andermatt Biocontrol daughter, for their product Eco-Noc (Nomu-Protec) and the Bronze Award went to FytoFend for COS-OGA.
Three products shortlisted for the 2018 Bernard Blum Award
The three products shortlisted underline our industry’s innovative character:
COS-OGA by FytoFend
is efficient in controlling a wide range of plant diseases caused by Oomycetes and fungi. The commercial formulation FytoSave® contains 12.5 g/L of COS-OGA and is registered in Europe for the control of powdery mildews on vegetables including Solanaceae, cucurbits but also small fruits (strawberry, blackberry and raspberry), roses, bulb flowers, herbs and aromatic plants. On grapevine, FytoSave® is registered against powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) but also against downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). Novel uses of FytoSave® will soon include protection against rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae), apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and black leaf streak disease of banana (Pseudocercospora fijiensis).
Burkholderia by Marrone Bio Innovations
is a range of products based on a new species of non-living bacteria, Burkholderia rinojensis, discovered by Marrone Bio Innovations, which produces several natural compounds (some known, but not as pesticides, and some novel) with pesticidal activity that work together to control a broad range of pests and weeds. MBI has developed a manufacturing process that minimizes the herbicidal compounds for Majestene and Venerate, while a different manufacturing process maximizes the herbicidal compounds to create MBI-014 bioherbicide. While its efficacy spectrum is very broad on pests, it is non-toxic or low risk to non-target organisms, it is for example non-toxic to honeybees and does not affect pollination. We do not know of another microorganism where multiple products have been developed across such a broad range of targets – weeds, insect, mites and nematodes. Bacillus thuringiensis with its many strains and subspecies is the closest example, but Bt does not cross this many groups of pests and weeds.
ECO-NOC (Nomu-Protec) by Plant Health Products
This microbial bioinsecticide targets lepidopteran pests, especially from the Noctuidae family which includes economically harmful pests such as the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), as well as other Spodoptera spp. Crops such as maize, soybean and wheat are targeted by these lepidopteran pests. The crucial impact on these staple foods in Africa and other parts of the world (FAO, 1995) has been underlined by the recent accidental introduction of fall armyworm into Africa, having massive implications for food security on the continent. Eco-Noc is an ecologically sustainable and environmentally safe pest control solution which can be used within Pest Management (IPM) to mitigate the impact of the fall armyworm. Although there are other products based on Metarhizium anisopliae that are available globally, this will be the first product to use the species Metarhizium rileyi (previously Nomuraea rileyi). This species is very different from other Metarhizium species in that it is more specific to its insect hosts. In addition, the species is more difficult to grow in culture and mass produce (Song, 2013). Scientists at Plant Health Products have developed unique methods to overcome these challenges and in so doing can successfully produce Metarhizium rileyi fungal spores for use as the active ingredient in the product.
List of nominees 2018
Since 2015, an independent jury selects among a number of entries a winning biocontrol product which provides an effective solution in the management of pests or diseases while having a low impact on human health and the environment. This year’s list of nominees is even longer than last year – and it shows again how innovative the biocontrol industry is:
Agrauxine for the product NEXY, a microbial for control of post-harvest diseases.
Biocontrol Technologies for the product T34 BIOCONTROL® a microbial biofungicide with activity against both soil and foliar diseases in a range of crops.
Bioline Agrosciences for the product TRICHOLOINE VITIS, a macrobial biocontrol agent for control of Tortrix pests in grapevines.
Biopreparaty for the product POLYVERSUM, a microbial biofungicide for use as a seed treatment or foliar applications in a range of crops.
CBC Europe for the products MISTER PRO and ISOOMATE CM MISTER 1.0, a semiochemical and smart dispenser for mating disruption of codling moth.
Ceradis for the product CERAMAX, a biochemical product for seed treatment and post-harvest uses.
Fyto Fend for the product COS-OGA, a biochemical biofungicide.
Kan biosys Pvt Ltd for the product MILASTIN K™, a biofungicide based on Bacillus subtilis KTSB 1015 for the control of powdery mildew in grapes.
Koppert Biological Systems for the product NOLI, a microbial biofungicide for the control of botrytis.
Marrone Bio Innovations for a range of products based on Burkholderia sp. strain A396 for uses as bioinsecticides, bionematicides and bioherbicides.
Plant Health Products for the product ECO-NOC, a microbial bioinsecticide with activity against lepidopteran pests.
Provivi for the product PROVIVI FAW dispenser, a semiochemical dispenser system for the control of fall armyworm.
Seipasa for the product FUNGISEI, a microbial biofungicide based upon Bacillus subtilis.
STK bio-ag technologies for the product REGEV™, a hybrid foliar fungicide combining a biochemical plant extract with a chemical fungicide.
Tocklai Tea Research Institute for the product METATOC, a microbial termiticide.
The winner as well as the second and third placed products will be announced at the IBMA Annual General Assembly during ABIM 2018 in Basel, Switzerland. IBMA will award a trophy, interview and product placement in New Ag International and 2BMonthly publications, as well as complementary registration for ABIM 2019 and the 3 shortlisted finalists will have a poster to display their innovations at ABIM 2018.