Marrone Bio Innovations to Receive IPM Innovator Award

DAVIS, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) is being recognized by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) for developing effective and environmentally responsible pest management products that enhance the value of integrated pest management (IPM) programs across a wide variety of crops and pests.  An awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 18, at Cal EPA Headquarters in Sacramento.

"Your organization has developed methods for pest control that reduce the risks associated with using traditional chemical pesticides," said Mary-Ann Warmerdam, CDPR director, on announcing the award.  "The principles of biopesticides hinge upon the use of naturally occurring substances and predators to reduce or eliminate pests.  These substances are inherently less toxic than conventionally manufactured pesticides.  One of our missions is to encourage through recognition the use of pest control methods that are more protective of public health and the environment.  We applaud Marrone Bio Innovations for its leadership in this exciting field."

IPM Innovator Awards are given annually to organizations that have made efforts to reduce risks associated with pesticide use, and for sharing their research and methods with others.  Candidates are evaluated in seven categories:  innovation, value, effectiveness, supports research, organizational education, outreach and leadership.  Marrone Bio Innovations is the only producer of agricultural pest management products to receive the award since the program's inception in 1994.

"The IPM Innovator Award underscores the value of what has always been our goal at MBI," said CEO and founder Pam Marrone.  "With several more novel biopesticides coming soon from the MBI pipeline, it is gratifying to know that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation shares our belief in these technologies."

MBI is the third company founded by Pam Marrone with a mission to discover, develop and market naturally derived, effective products for pest management.  Products currently available as a result of that process are:

• Regalia®, an effective new tool for control of several fungal and bacterial diseases in agronomic and ornamental crops, including powdery mildew, downy mildew, Botrytis gray mold, bacterial leaf spot, brown rot, walnut blight, late blight, citrus canker and others.  By including Regalia in a disease management program, conventional growers can reduce their use of elemental or chemical pesticides, delay the development of resistance to them, and improve yield and quality.  Regalia is NOP compliant and OMRI listed for use in organic production, but is a valuable tool for both conventional and organic practices.
• GreenMatch® burndown herbicide, a nonselective herbicide that offers organic growers an effective economic alternative to current methods of weed control.  GreenMatch replaces dangerous or energy-intensive weed-control techniques such as flaming and cultivation.  GreenMatch is NOP compliant and OMRI listed.

MBI is also developing a biopesticide to control invasive zebra and quagga mussels that are fouling freshwater ecosystems.  Zequanox™ will replace nonselective, harsh chemicals, such as chlorine, the most commonly used treatment option.

Recently, the company submitted two new agricultural biopesticides for registration with the U.S. EPA.  One is a bioinsecticide with broad-spectrum activity on sucking and chewing pests such as whitefly, spider mites, diamondback moth, cabbage looper and others.  The second is a bioherbicide that can be used as a selective rice herbicide, and has shown great potential for turf, wheat and other cereal crops.

Individually and collectively, these products help reduce the use of VOC-generating products, including OPs, carbamates and fumigants, and sulfur products.  At the same time, they have low risk to workers, nontarget organisms and the environment.

About Marrone Bio Innovations:

Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) discovers, develops and markets effective and environmentally responsible products that fill unmet needs for weed, plant disease, and invasive pest management. Through a combination of in-licensed technology and its own R&D, MBI uses plants and naturally occurring microorganisms from unique habitats to develop better and safer pest management products. The company has an impressive pipeline of new products coming, including two insecticides, two herbicides, and Zequanox™ for controlling invasive zebra and quagga mussels in waterways (EPA pending). MBI currently markets GreenMatch® burndown herbicide for weed control in organic crop production, and Regalia® for control of fungal and bacterial diseases of both food and ornamental crops in conventional and organic production. For more information, email [email protected], call 1-877-664-4476 or visit www.marronebioinnovations.com .

About Cal DPR:

One of five departments and boards within the California Environmental Protection Agency, DPR regulates the registration, sale and use of pesticides to protect people and the environment.  For more information about DPR and previous IPM Innovators, see www.cdpr.ca.gov.

Acronyms used in this release:

NOP = National Organic Program

OMRI = Organic Materials Review Institute

OP = organophosphates

VOC = volatile organi

SOURCE Marrone Bio Innovations