North Carolina-based AgBiome, Inc., a developer of innovative products from the Earth’s microbial communities, announced on June 1 its newest product, Theia® fungicide, has received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Theia® fungicide, developed through AgBiome’s GENESIS™ platform, is the second proprietary AgBiome® crop protection product to be marketed.
“Today, we are one step closer to bringing growers of high-value crops yet another extremely effective disease management tool,” Dr. Toni Bucci, chief operating officer for AgBiome, said in a company press release. “This registration and impending commercial launch are proof of AgBiome’s ability to fulfill our promise of innovating to enhance the global agricultural ecosystem.”
The release described Theia® fungicide as delivering “broad-spectrum foliar and soil disease control through multiple modes of action, including fungicidal and bactericidal metabolites, and is OMRI Listed. With excellent control on diseases such as powdery mildew and Fusarium that have the power to devastate high-value fruit and vegetable crops, Theia® fungicide is poised to become an important disease control solution for growers.”
Howler® fungicide, which was launched in 2019, is another highly effective tool against a broad-spectrum of soilborne and foliar diseases. “Theia® fungicide complements Howler® fungicide with distinct modes of action and the ability to perform against additional key disease targets,” the release said.
Dr. Brooke Bissinger, Theia® fungicide product manager for AgBiome, said, “Theia® fungicide is a testament of our platform’s unique ability to identify the best fungicidal strains for growers using our proprietary tools. From the microbe discovery by our own plant pathologist Dr. Phil Hammer, to the final steps toward commercialization today, we’re proud to see this approval granted for this product from our GENESIS™ platform.”
State registrations are now pending and growers can expect Theia® fungicide to be available for purchase through AgBiome’s retail partners later this year.
