Jan 31, 2024

Biologicals companies added to Platform10 roster

New biologicals companies have been added to the Platform10 #1 Company cohort.

Platform10 is an international, multi-year collaboration that works to accelerate promising biopesticide companies, rigorously assess products, enhance grower confidence, and facilitate market development and adoption, according to a news release from Wharf42, a New Zealand-based ag tech consultancy that works with Western Growers in presenting the Salinas Biologicals Summit, which is scheduled for June 25-26 in Salinas, California.

The 2024 cohort of biological product companies have been invited to participate in the first round of Plaform10 commercial field trials.

The following biological product companies were invited;

• AgroSpheres
• Bayer
• Boost Biomes
• Impello Bio
• Lallemand
• ProFarm Group
• Summit Agro
• Vestaron

The firms submitted products that were selected to be trialed on key crops and diseases, as identified by growers. Applications were reviewed by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts in the representative crops, pests, and diseases. The selection process was described as highly competitive.

“Bio-based and novel pest control options are being developed to address existing and anticipated gaps in pest management are sorely needed to ensure that our growers are properly equipped with the tools to address mounting pest and disease challenges,” organizers said in the Wharf42 release.

Trials will be overseen by a third party, working in collaboration with the product company’s technical personnel. The initial field trial program will be managed out of the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology in Salinas, California.

“Growers are up against mounting pest and disease challenges due to climate change, reduced efficacy, and diminishing availability of traditional pest control tools,” according to Platform10’s website. “The specialty crop industry in particular requires new crop input technologies due to governmental regulations and consumer demands. Bio-based and novel pest control options to address existing and anticipated gaps in pest management are sorely needed to ensure that our growers are properly equipped with the tools to address these challenges.”

Platform10’s field trials are focusing on key crops and their associated diseases and pests. By running  trials across international borders, the organization is able to leverage counter seasonal crop cycles in both northern and southern hemispheres. This will accelerate both the trialing process and the opportunity to get ‘best of class’ products into the market, according to the release.