MustGrow Biologics Corp. and Bayer have signed an Exclusive Agreement to evaluate MustGrow’s biological technologies to determine efficacy and commercial potential in key agricultural regions. Sustainable innovations and green technologies are necessary to ensure agricultural production continues to address food safety and security as well as soil health. This agreement between Bayer and MustGrow further demonstrates the importance of innovation in sustainable technologies in agricultural regions around the world.
MustGrow has granted Bayer the right to use MustGrow’s intellectual property for testing purposes and the option to acquire exclusive rights to MustGrow’s technologies for preplant soil fumigation, bioherbicide applications, and postharvest food preservation of potatoes, including sprout inhibition in the regions of Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. Under the agreement, Bayer will fund and drive all laboratory, field development, regulatory work and market development necessary for commercialization. MustGrow continues to conduct field trials, R&D and regulatory development concurrently in other regions, collaborating with numerous agriculture, chemical products, and consumer food companies.
MustGrow’s technology pipeline is focused on remarkably safe, effective, organic plant-based biopesticides that harness the mustard seed’s natural defense mechanism to treat diseases, pests and weeds. MustGrow’s technology has shown consistent efficacy in many regions of North and South America, in multiple crops, covering many pests, over multiple years. “We are thrilled to accelerate the development and understanding of our technology with Bayer in these important food producing regions. I am hopeful that we potentially have a sustainable solution for farmers to help with key issues in their production of food,” said Corey Giasson, CEO of MustGrow. “Working with a leading global agricultural company like Bayer, who is focused on sustainable agriculture, is a tremendous opportunity for our organization to see our technologies develop globally.”
“At Bayer we know that the challenges facing agriculture, both now and in the future, cannot be solved alone and we are looking forward to working with MustGrow,” said Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics for Bayer Crop Science. “This new agreement will help Bayer to understand the potential of MustGrow’s novel biopesticide technologies and how they can accelerate development of sustainable crop protection.”
Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa are expected to have represented roughly 56% of the global crop protection market in 2021. The global market is projected to have grown nearly 3% in 2021, with the Asia market leading this growth. The worldwide biopesticide market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 13.1% and reach US$10.63 billion by 2027, driven by increased demand for organic food, elimination of synthetic chemical alternatives and intensifying efforts by governments and industry to use more sustainable products.