BellaTrove Companion® Maxx ST biological fungicide available for corn, soybeans and multiple other crops
Indianapolis, IN − To meet demand for sustainable crop protection, DPH Biologicals launched today a multi-action biofungicide seed treatment, BellaTrove™ Companion Maxx ST, that helps seedlings fight pathogens and ensures healthy root systems.
BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST is derived from DPH Biologicals’ proprietary strain of a plant-stimulating rhizobacterium. The EPA-registered OMRI-certified biofungicide and bactericide stimulates a plant’s natural defenses against pathogens while improving nutrient uptake and root health. BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST offers greater value to organic and conventional growers at a time when input costs continue to increase.
“With BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST, growers get a biological seed treatment in a scientifically proven formulation wrapping crop fertility, stress reduction and disease suppression up in one easy-to-use, farmer-friendly package,” said Mick Messman, president and CEO at DPH Biologicals and former director of global seed treatment for DuPont.
The emerging biological seed treatment market is growing rapidly, predicted to record a 12.7% CAGR over the next seven years and reach an estimated $3.59 billion global market share by 2029, according to a new market research report. Growers are turning to biological seed treatments to meet increasing needs for more sustainable ways to optimize yield, increase plants’ ability to respond to abiotic stress and protect against pests and disease.
While DPH Biologicals is known for its liquid biofertilizer SP-1 Classic, BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST leverages the company’s seed-applied technology expertise and biological innovation as part of its overall biocontrol technology platform.
“Seed treatments have become a routine part of many farm operations, but very few biological seed treatments have delivered the same consistent performance. With our team’s deep experience introducing seed-applied technologies for the majors, we know growers are willing to try new products if we show them it works,” Messman said, who is one of several leaders at the company with seed-applied technology expertise having helped establish the category.
After hiring several leaders in biologicals, DPH Biologicals expanded its technical bench with the addition of Cliff Watrin, who led the development of seed treatments for Winfield United and Syngenta. “Farmers continue to want a broad range of crop protection options. Companion remains one of the most trusted and proven products available – now in a seed treatment,” said Watrin, VP of Agronomy.
The product uses DPH Biologicals’ proprietary ENV503 strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, a well-studied rhizobacteria known for its fast colonization of emerging seedlings root hairs and leaves and its production of a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic with strong antifungal activity. Peer-reviewed studies of biologically identical rhizobacterium have proven B. amyloliquefaciens’ ability to suppress fungal pathogens by more than 80% and double root growth as compared to untreated seeds.
An excellent stand-alone product, studies have shown that combining BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST with traditional chemical fungicides produces even superior results while simultaneously reducing the pesticidal resistance often seen with commonly used chemical fungicides. BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST has been specially formulated to easily mix with other crop nutrients or protection products and can be applied via a slurry, a planter box or a hopper box.
The product is currently available with select distributors and on www.dphbio.com.
Link to full audio interview with DPH Bio President and CEO Mick Messman and Cliff Watrin, VP of Agronomy – right click to download.
DPH Biologicals BellaTrove Companion Maxx ST (12:14)
About DPH Biologicals
DPH Biologicals aims to become the industry’s most trusted biologicals provider. For over three decades, we have delivered value to the row and specialty crop, turf and ornamental markets. With unique applicability across broad soil types, our technology platform, TerraTrove™, built on the SP-1 Classic™ formulation, has been refined across millions of acres to make it the most complete biofertility solution available. We are committed to building upon the DPH Biologicals heritage to help meet the needs of a growing population and address global concerns of climate change, food security and clean water. For more information, visit www.dphbio.com.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Goldston
AgTech PR for DPH Biologicals
jennifer@agtechpr.com