Bioinsecticide Company Eyes 1 Million Acres in 2021
The team at AgBiTech is leveraging 20 years of experience in Australia to bring new biological crop protection options for the U.S. The company has three baculovirus-based insecticide products that were applied on 500,000 acres in 2020, and the goal is to double that this year.
“We want retailers to see these products as a great addition to their portfolios ,” says Marcos Castro of AgBiTech. “There can be misconceptions about efficacy, but the reality is there’s a great fit. Our tools are finally tools that check all the boxes. They are efficacious, good for the environment and cost effective for row crops.”
Castro notes AgBiTech’s product Heligen (labeled for soybeans, sorghum, sweet corn, cotton, peanuts and industrial hemp) costs $4.50 to $7/acre, depending on use rates.
With increasing resistance to pyrethroids, this bioinsecticide provides a new mode of action (Group 31) to control earworms. Its application timing is to target corn earworms at first appearance.
The baculovirus-based insecticide infects the insect, kills the pest, and releases the virus into the environment.
“So the caterpillars will work for you to generate more product than even what you sprayed,” Castro says. “The virus can be present for up to 60 days under ideal conditions. So if you have a rolling population with new hosts, the dynamics in the field will play into your advantage.”
Castro explains Heligen is capable of being a tank mix partner with herbicides, fungicides, fertilizer and other products as long as the solution is below an 8 pH.
The product requires refrigerated storage but can be transported without. Packaging includes 1 gal. jugs, which with a use rate of 1 to 2 ounces one gallon can treat around 100 acres. The company provides storage equipment for retailers when they place a minimum order.
When asked what leads to the most success with introducing the products, Castro says the company spends a lot of time with new retailers and consultants to make sure the timing of applications is optimized.
“We put a lot of effort with hand holding first-time users to use this slightly differently than curative chemistry, so they know how to be successful,” he says.
In addition to Heligen, the company markets Fawligen to target fall armyworm in sweet corn and Surtivo targeting corn earworm and loopers in soybeans and peanuts.
Castro says more new product introductions are on the near horizon.
AgBiTech has its US headquarters in the Dallas area, which includes its baculovirus factory and production site.
