DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 8, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (MBI), (NASDAQ:MBII), a leading provider of bio-based pest management and plant health products for the agriculture, turf and ornamental and water treatment markets, announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved its latest product, MAJESTENE™, a broad spectrum, high performance natural bionematicide for controlling nematodes (roundworms) on a wide range of agricultural crops.
MAJESTENE was developed from MBI's in-house discovery screening process and provides growers with a new mode of action for safely controlling nematodes by reducing or stopping eggs from hatching, preventing root galling and reducing nematode population density. Nematodes cause approximately $80 billion annually in damages to crops globally.
"We are pleased with MAJESTENE'S approval by the EPA, as this new bionematicide meets a large market need due to heavy restrictions on toxic chemicals used to control nematodes and the need for easier-to-use biologicals that reduce multiple species of nematode populations," said Pam Marrone, MBI's CEO.
"Today's growers are faced with ever-increasing regulatory restrictions on existing conventional products to reduce exposure to people nearby, to protect non-target beneficial insects, to reduce air and water pollution, to ensure worker safety and to be export-ready. Growers who traditionally employ conventional nematicides for crop protection can now use MAJESTENE, which has multiple modes of action, a low risk to beneficial insects, and an exemption from residue tolerances. MAJESTENE brings growers expanded options for an environmentally responsible and effective solution for managing pests in conventional and organic crops," said Brian Ahrens, MBI's Vice President of Sales.
MAJESTENE is labeled for a wide array of crops against multiple nematodes such as root knot, cyst, sting and lance and is approved for use in conventional and organic systems. It is available in a liquid formulation and can be applied by ground, with no limit on the number of applications allowed per season. MAJESTENE has the minimum four-hour re-entry interval for farmworkers. The product is non-toxic to fish, birds and most beneficial insects, and also has the advantages of a zero-day pre-harvest interval (PHI) and an exemption from MRL (maximum residue level) tolerances — a measure of pesticide residue limits that must be met for most food crop exports. MBI is currently applying for state registrations for MAJESTENE.
About Marrone Bio Innovations
Smart. Natural. Solutions.
Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBII) will lead the movement to a more sustainable world through the discovery, development and promotion of biological products for pest management and plant health. Our effective and environmentally responsible solutions help customers operate more sustainably while controlling pests, improving plant health, and increasing crop yields.We have three additional products for agriculture on the market,a proprietary discovery process, a rapid development platform, and a robust pipeline of pest management and plant health product candidates. At Marrone Bio Innovations we are dedicated to pioneering better biopesticides that support a better tomorrow for users around the globe. For more information, please visit www.marronebio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Portions of this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements," and assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "PSLRA"), Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any such forward-looking statements are made within the "safe-harbor" protections of the PSLRA, should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any responsibility to, update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this filing include those regarding Grandevo, including its potential uses, availability in the EU and registration with applicable agencies. Such forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Such risks include inability to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our products, or to comply with ongoing and changing regulatory requirements, which could delay or prevent sales, failure of customers to adopt our products and competition in the markets for our products. Additional information that could lead to material changes in our performance is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.