AgraQuest Presents BioInnovations for Sustainable Farming at 127th Annual ASTA Conference
Davis, Calif. (August 15, 2010) – AgraQuest, Inc. President, and leader of its BioInnovations Division, Dr. Michael Miille gave a presentation on the role biopesticide seed treatments can play in sustainable farming at the American Seed Treatment Association’s (ASTA) Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX, June 26 through 30, 2010.
Dr. Miille spoke about applying a “low chem” approach to agriculture, by combining effective biopesticides with conventional pesticides to optimize yields, reduce chemical residues, improve resistance management, provide better plant health, and fulfill the demands of regulators and consumer groups.
The discussion highlighted the promise of Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 and other AgraQuest technologies in seed treatment applications. Studies indicate microbial seed treatments can deliver growth enhancement and stress mitigation in plants and pest control in the soil, leading to yield benefits. Similarly, Dr. Miille showed how AgraQuest’s new in-furrow fungicide SERENADE SOIL™ protects young plants from soil diseases, accelerating root colonization and developing an “armor” that protects against soil diseases.
As part of the discussion, Dr. Miille described the efforts of AgraQuest’s BioInnovations team, which provides the company an avenue to take biological and low-chemical technology created for the agriculture industry and realize innovative uses for it in related markets, like seed treatment, turf and ornamentals, animal health and food safety.
Dr. Miille referred to AgraQuest’s recent distribution agreements with BASF for SERENADE® biofungicides outside of the NAFTA region, and with BAYER Environmental Science in the U.S. home and garden market. ”These partnerships,” he said, “demonstrate the interest leading companies in the agrochemical industry have in biopesticides as useful tools for growers, and help to accelerate the green revolution in agriculture.”
About AgraQuest, Inc.
AgraQuest is a biotechnology company focused on discovering, manufacturing and making highly effective pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets. The company holds a large portfolio of its own proprietary products, as well as actively in-licenses technology that fits into its low chem portfolio. As a leader in green agriculture and the emerging low chem sector, AgraQuest works to provide growers with solutions that offer best-in-class control while reducing the chemical load on the environment and creating sustainable agriculture opportunities. The Agrochemical division of AgraQuest offers a global portfolio of products – recognized as safer to beneficials, workers and the environment – that includes SERENADE®, SERENADE® Garden, SERENADE SOIL™, RHAPSODY®, SONATA®, and BALLAD® fungicides, and REQUIEM® insecticide. AgraQuest’s BioInnovations division provides the company an avenue to take biological and low-chemical technology created for the agriculture industry and discover innovative uses for it in related markets. AgraQuest has received several environmental awards including the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the U.S. EPA for the discovery and commercialization of SERENADE. It also received the prestigious Global Frost & Sullivan Growth Leadership Award in 2009 for the biopesticides market. For more information visit www.agraquest.com.