“AgraQuest showcases microbials”

Crop Protection:  Value and Efficacy; Industry Experts discuss the latest in fungicides and the biggest challenges growers are facing as the work to feed an ever-increasing world population.

Loudwater, a UK-based, AIM-listed investor that focuses on pre-IPO and late-stage growth opportunities, elected to negotiate the conversion with AgraQuest into preferred stock.  Loudwater’s initial investments in AgraQuest, in the form of a convertible note and a separate preferred equity investment, came in November of 2007, when they joined a consortium of investors including TPG Growth, Otter Capital, Emerald Ventures, Halcyon Capital, Foragen and SwissRE in providing additional growth capital to AgraQuest.  The conversion of this debt will enable AgraQuest to further finance growth, commercialize additional products in its pipeline, and increase its market share of the emerging low-chemical ag-inputs sector.  Edward Forwood of Loudwater has joined AgraQuest’s board of directors.

“In assessing AgraQuest’s long-term growth and value appreciation potential 0 its strong current portfolio and pipeline of unique, prorietary products, its recent partnership announcements with major chemical companies such as BASF, and the myriad macro drivers such as increasing population, growing scarcity of arable land and water, tightening regulatory restrictions on synthetic chemistries, and increasing need for effective products with improved environmental and worker safety profiles - we determined that conversion into an equity position at this time was much more advantageious to Loudwater as investors,” said Forwood.  ”We believe that AgraQuest is creating substaintal values as the technological and commerical leader of the emerging low-chemical ag-inputs sector.  With an increased equity position, we anticipate that Loudwater is now positioned for maximum benefit.”

AgraQuest, an innovative leader in the biopesticide and low-chemical agriculture sectors is tentatively planning an initial public offering in 2011.

“We are very pleased that Loudwater pursued this debt conversion arrangement,” said AgraQuest CEO Marcus Meadows-Smith.  ”It further validates that our investors are excited about the direction, financial performance and technical and commercial progress of AgraQuest.  The addition of Edward Forwood to our board of directors is a very positive step in strengthening the long-term ties between AgraQuest and Loudwater.  Ultimately, this transaction helps solidify AgraQuest as the leader of the low-chemical ag-inputs market.”

About AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, manufacturing and marketing 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 portfoio.  As a leader in the merging low chem sector, AgraQuest works to provide growers with solutions that offer best in class control while reducing the chemcial load on the environment.  The Agrochemical division of AgraQuest offers a global portfolio of products - recognized as safer to beneficials, works and the environment - that includes SERENADE®, SERENADE® Garden, RHAPSODY®, SONATA®, AND BALLAD® fungicides and BARITONE® AND REQUIEM® insecticides.  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.  The BioInnovations division identifies both appropriate market segments and opportunities for AgraQuest’s intellectual property, while seeking industry leaders in ancillary markets to partner in the commercialization and distribution process.  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

Freshplaza.com is an independent news source for companies operating in the global fruit and vegetable sector.

“Focus on AgraQuest” - Crop Protection Monthly, UK ]]> http://agraquest.com/news/2010/02/agraquest-highlighted-in-crop-protection-monthly/feed/ http://agraquest.com/news/2010/02/agraquest-taps-lamonega-for-head-of-sales-in-the-americas-and-asia/ http://agraquest.com/news/2010/02/agraquest-taps-lamonega-for-head-of-sales-in-the-americas-and-asia/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:56:22 +0000 AgraQuest http://agraquest.com/news/?p=189 Former Chemtura Executive will Guide AgraQuest’s Growth in NAFTA Markets

Davis, Calif. (February 18, 2010) - AgraQuest Inc. today announced the appointment of César Lamonega to Senior Vice President, Sales - Americas & Asia, effective immediately.

Lamonega, a seasoned agriculture professional with more than 35 years experience, joined AgraQuest in July of 2009.  With his wealth of international experience, as well as proven success in launching products and growing business during his 30 years at Chemtura (Uniroyal/Crompton), Lamonega was originally tasked with building the Latin American organization and developing the Asia business for AgraQuest.

In his new position, Lamonega will be responsible for leading the continued rapid growth of North American sales, in addition to his previous duties in Latin America and Asia.  He will head an experienced team committed to growing AgraQuest’s position as the world leader in innovative low chemical solutions, delivering exciting new products like BALLAD® PLUS fungicide for improved yields and best return on investment in row crops, as well as maximizing sales of exciting new products like SERENADE® SOIL fungicide and REQUIEM® insecticide.

“César’s proven sales leadership skills add fuel to our vision of being the premier low chem agricultural products company,” said Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO of AgraQuest. “He will extend our legacy of delivering innovative, clean solutions for better food and a safer world.”

“it is an exciting time to lead the North American ag business, which has recently introduced SERENADE SOIL fungicide to strengthen an already robust portfolio of tools for growers who want to control pests, and maximize their yields and profits.  AgraQuest’s innovative products bring flexibility and additional benefits to growers such as reduced or residue-free food, and shorter pre-harvest and re-entry times,” said Lamonega.  ”AgraQuest is dedicated to working closely with channel partners to deliver game-changing innovations to North American growers.”

A native of Argentina, Lamonega recently relocated from Sao Paolo, Brazil to Davis, California, and will work from AgraQuest’s corporate headquarters there.  Lamonega holds a BS degeree in Agricultural Engineering from La Plata University in Argentina.

About AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, manufacturing and marketing highly effective pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets.  The company has a large portfolio of its own proprietary products, but also actively in-licenses technology that fits into its low chem portfoio.  As a leader in the merging low chem sector, AgraQuest works to provide growers with solutions that offer best in class control while reducing the chemcial load on the environment.  The Agrochemical division of AgraQuest offers a global portfolio of products - recognized as safer to beneficials, works and the environment - that includes SERENADE®, SERENADE® Garden, RHAPSODY®, SONATA®, AND BALLAD® fungicides and BARITONE® AND REQUIEM® insecticides.  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.  The BioInnovations division identifies both appropriate market segments and opportunities for AgraQuest’s intellectual property, while seeking industry leaders in ancillary markets to partner in the commercialization and distribution process.  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

Davis, Calif. (January 27, 010) - AgraQuest Inc. announced today the launch of SYMPATIC™, a feed additive based on its patented, natural active ingredient Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713.

Kicking off the launch of SYMPATIC at the 2010 International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta, AgraQuest sees the new product as an excellent fit for discriminating poultry producers, bringing added value to their nutrition programs.

“SYMPATIC is designed to bring balance to poultry microflora,” said Dr. Michael Miille, President of AgraQuest.  ”Additionally, it has been formulated to be compatible and complementary to common nutrition and health management practices, making it an excellent alternative to antibiotic growth promoters.”

As a feed additive, SYMPATIC delivers live QST 713 spores to birds’ digestive tracts where they germinate, producing high levels of distinct secondary metabolites.  These spores and metabolites help maintain a healthy microflora by stimulating lactic acid-producing bacteria and minimizing pathogen interactions with the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in more efficient production without the use of growth promoting antibiotics.

Results of controlled feeding studies with respected investigators have been commercially compelling, including in disease-challenged models.  Additionally, the SYMPATIC product’s formulation is heat and pressure tolerant, making it easily incorporated into feed like other conventional treatments.

Given the attributes, we are confident leading producers and distribution partners around the globe will value the consistent return on investment SYMPATIC delivers,” said Miille.

Based on the same patented technology that gave the world its first commercially successful and dependable foliar biofungicide/bactericide, SYMPATIC is the first product introduced by AgraQuest into the animal health and nutrition market through its BioInnovations Division.

About AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, manufacturing and marketing highly effective pest managment products for agricultural, institutional and home markets.  The company has a large portfolio of its own proprietary products, but also actively in-licenses technology that fits into its low chem portfolio.  As a leader in 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.  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, RHAPSODY®, SONATA®, and BALLAD® fungicides and BARITONE® and REQUIEM® insecticides.  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.  The BioInnovations division identifies both appropriate market segments and opportunities for AgraQuest’s intellectual property, while seeking industry leaders in ancillary markets to partner in the commercialization and distribution process.  AgraQuest has received several environmental awards including the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the U.S. EPA for the discovery and commercialization of SERENADE.  For more information visit www.agraquest.com

SERENADE® SOIL fungicide to provide growers with unique solution to improve profitability

Davis, Calif. (January 4, 2010) - AgraQuest Inc. announced today the launch of SERENADE SOIL, the first soil fungicide based on its patented active ingredient Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713.  In 2010, SERENADE SOIL fungicide will be available in the U.S. for growers needing protection against profit-robbing soil diseases such as Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium and Phytophthora in potatoes, tomatoes and cucurbits.

Applied at planting, SERENADE SOIL quickly builds a disease protection zone around the seed.  As the seedling grows, the beneficial bacteria in SERENADE SOIL continue to grow, attaching themselves to the roots of the plant, expanding the disease protection zone, resulting in higher-yielding fields and better quality fruits and vegetables.

“Proven over the past several years in numerous lab studies, field trials and large-scale grower demos, SERENADE SOIL delivers on our commitment to bring growers unique tools that deliver on AgraQuest’s promises:  performance, flexibility and value,” said Ashish Malik, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing.

Three years of investigation have demonstrated that plants treated with SERENADE SOIL fungicide are stronger, healthier, and are shown to deliver average yield increases of two to four tons of potatoes per acre.  The strong yield results delivered by SERENADE SOIL are based on the diverse and unique activities of B. subtilis strain QST 713 in the soil.

When SERENADE SOIL is applied at planting, the beneficial bacteria quickly attack soil diseases, while rapidly colonizing the seedling and root.  Once colonized, the bacteria produce compounds that not only continue attacking soil diseases, but also trigger metabolic pathways to activate the plant’s natural defenses and modulate growth.

Products based on AgraQuest’s patented B. subtilis strain QST 713 have been protecting crops from foliar diseases for nearly a decade, since the first SERENADE products was introduced in the U.S. in 2000.  Registrations have been obtained in more than 26 countries, including several countries in the the European Union, Latin America, Japan and Canada.  SERENADE SOIL fungicide is the first product in the SERENADE line designed and tested for use in the soil.  In April 2009, AgraQuest announced a license, supply and distribution agreement with BASF for SERENADE for agriculture applications outside of NAFTA.

“We such dramatic yield and quality effects because SERENADE SOIL brings som many distinct modes of action to the battle,” said Malik.  ”And, as with other products in the family like SERENADE ASO and SERENADE MAX, growers who use SERENADE SOIL can count on its ease of use with 4-hour REIs, broad tank-mix compatibility, and exemption from residue tolerances.”

Investment in new products like SERENADE SOIL are part of the $130 million spent by AgraQuest on research and development designed to revolutionize the way we produce food globally.

About AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing highly effective pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets.  As a leader in 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.  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, RHAPSODY®, SONATA® and BALLAD® fungicides and BARITONE® and REQUIEM® insecticides.  AgraQuest’s BioInnovations division provides the company an avenue to take biological and low-chemical technology created for the agricultural industry and discover innovative uses for it in related markets.  The BioInnovations division identifies both appropriate market segments and opportunities for AgraQuest’s intellectual property, while seeking industry leaders in ancillary markets to partner in the commercialization and distribution process.  AgraQuest has received several environmental awards including the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the U.S. EPA for the discovery and commercialization of SERENADE.  For more information visit www.agraquest.com

DAVIS, Calif. and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (December 9, 2009) - AgraQuest Inc. and Bayer CropScience LP announced today that they have agreed to terms for a supply agreement that will have AgraQuest produce and package products for the new Natria™ product line from Bayer Advanced™, the U.S. consumer products business of Bayer CropScience.  Under the terms of the agreement, AgraQuest technology based on its proprietary strain of Bacillus subtilis (QST 713) will be used in two Natria™ products for the home and garden marketplace.  Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

AgraQuest’s naturally derived Bacillus subtilis QST 713 is the same active ingredient that has been used by commercial farmers and growers for nearly a decade to treat fruits and vegetables for common bacterial and fungal diseases.

“The technology and expertise of AgraQuest are a great fit for our new Natria™ line,” said Jacqueline Applegate, Vice President of Consumer Products North America and Head of Bayer Advanced.

The two products, Natria™ Disease Control in a 24-ounce ready-to-use bottle and a 28-ounce ready-to-spray, hose-end bottle, will be available at national mass merchant chains and indepedent retailers for the 2010 season.

“We are very excited about our collaboration with Bayer, we believe that this is an ideal avenue to expand our footprint in the home and garden marketplace,” said Mike Miille, President and COO for AgraQuest and head of AgraQuest’s BioInnovations Division.  ”Collaborating with Bayer allows us to more effectively serve mass merchandisers that had previously been outside our distribution focus of independent garden centers and nurseries.”

About Bayer CropScience

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials.  Bayer CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6.4 billion (2008), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology.  The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications.  Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of more than 18,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries.  This and further news is available at:  www.newsroom.bayercropscience.com.  Bayer(reg’d), the Bayer Cross(reg’d), Natria™ and Bayer Advanced™ are trademarks of Bayer.

About AgraQuest, Inc.

AgraQuest is a biotechnology company that focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing highly effective pest management products for agricultural, institutional and home markets.  As a leader in 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.  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, RHAPSODY®, SONATA®, and BALLAD® fungicides and BARITONE® and REQUIEM® insecticides.  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.  The BioInnovations division identifies both appropriate market segments and opportunities for AgraQuest’s intellectual property, while seeking industry leaders in ancillary markets to partner in the commercialization and distribution process.  AgraQuest has received several environmental awards including the Presidential Green Chemistry Award from the U.S. EPA for the discovery and commercialization of SERENADE.  For more information visit www.agraquest.com.