DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI), a leading global provider of natural products for the agricultural and water treatment markets, today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has approved its latest product, MBI-203 EP, which will be branded as Grandevo™. It is a broad-spectrum, high-performance natural insecticide for use on agricultural and ornamental crops. MBI-203 is initially being launched in Florida for insects such as citrus psyllid, following its approval yesterday from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  

The EPA approval paves the way for MBI to commercialize the third product in its growing portfolio, and marks the company's second product registration this year. MBI intends to launch Grandevo nationally in 2012, and to market the product to growers and pest control advisors through its existing distribution channels.

"Grandevo represents a significant achievement for MBI, as we now provide both fungicide and insecticide solutions to our customers," CEO Pam Marrone said. "The commercialization of Grandevo demonstrates our ability to bring multiple, effective products to market. With two more products awaiting EPA approval and several others at an earlier stage of development, our pipeline continues to address growing customer demand in the agricultural and water treatment markets."

Field trials conducted by leading universities and crop consultants have shown Grandevo has equivalent or better performance to chemical pesticides. Not only does this product address a broad spectrum of insects (both chewing and sucking species), but its complex mode of action – ingestion, contact and repellency – makes it more difficult for insects to develop resistance versus the single-site products predominantly used today.  

"Grandevo is the first new microbial insecticide offered in nearly 50 years. Like its predecessor, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), we believe Grandevo has the potential to gain wide acceptance and become a standard insecticide in pest management programs," said Chris Hildreth, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at MBI. "With its broad-spectrum activity against both sucking and chewing insects, high efficacy and unique mode of action, Grandevo represents a 'grand evolution' in insect control."

Grandevo is derived from a new species of Chromobacterium, named subtsugae. The strain coded PRAA4-1T was originally discovered by USDA scientist Dr. Phyllis Martin, and licensed to MBI. When unwanted insects encounter Grandevo, they become highly agitated and try to remove the product from their bodies. When it is ingested, the targeted insects will stop feeding and die.

Grandevo is well suited for rotation in pest management programs to help prolong the efficacy of conventional pesticides and manage chemical residues. It can be used for managing psyllids, thrips, mealybugs, leaf miners, stinkbugs, Lygus, leaf beetles, white grubs and armyworms. Grandevo requires no pre-harvest interval and has minimum re-entry intervals, enabling crops to be harvested soon after application. Its exemption from the requirement of a food tolerance is particularly important for exported crops that are subject to maximum residue levels. Also, the product is compliant with the National Organic Program (NOP) and listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Grandevo can be used in field, greenhouse and garden markets.

About Marrone Bio Innovations

Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. is a leading global provider of natural products for the agricultural and water treatment markets. Its effective and environmentally friendly natural agricultural products provide higher yields and quality while managing pesticide resistance and residues. Through its proprietary discovery and development platform and strategically in-licensed technologies, MBI has developed a pipeline of advanced and early-stage products for the significant agricultural and water treatment markets. MBI is selling its award-winning Regalia® biofungicide in the U.S. and other countries, and is addressing the water market with Zequanox™ for controlling invasive aquatic mussels in fresh waterways. MBI currently has three dozen patents pending in the U.S. and globally.

SOURCE Marrone Bio Innovations