Syngenta obtains exclusive rights for turf product line from Pasteuria Bioscience

Pasteuria Bioscience has announced that it has further strengthened its relationship with Syngenta, one of the world's leading agricultural technology companies, by entering into a licensing and distribution agreement for its existing and future turf grass products. This agreement is in addition to and separate from its June agreement that announced a global alliance for developing and commercializing bio-nematicide products based on Pasteuria spp. in a broad variety of agricultural and specialty crops .(AgroNews 2011-06-29)

As a result of the agreement, Syngenta will obtain Econem® Biological Nematicide, the first product containing Pasteuria commercialized by Pasteuria Bioscience. Introduced in the southeastern United States in 2010, Econem® provides an environmentally-safe, cost-effective and reliable approach for controlling sting nematodes in turf grass. In addition to Econem®, Syngenta will also secure the rights for all new turf products in the Pasteuria Bioscience research and development pipeline.

"This agreement further strengthens our relationship with Syngenta and serves as further validation of the technology," said David Duncan, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer for Pasteuria Bioscience. "We're very excited about Syngenta's plan to resource and fully realize the potential of these Pasteuria-based products in the golf course and other turf grass markets."

"Our customers have told us that they are extremely interested in how these new and environmentally favorable options can be effectively used to control pests," says Michael Parkin, Syngenta Global Head, Turf & Landscape. "It is really exciting to be able to add this innovative product to our already robust integrated offer."