Koppert partners with Lantmännen BioAgri

Koppert and Lantmännen BioAgri have agreed on the acquisition of the assets of BioAgri’s microbial products, registrations and IP by Koppert. The agreement means Koppert will expand its seed treatment capabilities and Lantmännen BioAgri will continue to cover its home market area in Scandinavia and around the Baltic Sea. Both parties have also agreed to further develop a strong partnership around the acquired product portfolio with joint R&D and marketing, explains a press release.

Koppert Biological Systems is the international market leader in the field of biological crop protection, natural pollination and sustainable cultivation solutions. BioAgri is part of the Lantmännen group, an agricultural cooperative and Northern Europe’s leader in agriculture, machinery, bioenergy and food products. Over the last 20 years BioAgri has successfully developed biopesticide products for agriculture, forestry and the horticultural industry.

The incentive for the transaction are three bacterial biofungicide seed treatment products based on the bacteria Pseudomonas chlororaphis marketed under the names Cedomon, Cerall and Cedress. These products belong to the first group of registered biofungicide seed treatment products in Europe for wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale (Cedomon and Cerall), carrots and peas (Cedress). The patented bacteria Pseudomonas azotoformans is also included in the transaction.

First registered biofungicide for seed treatment in Europe

Koppert’s Global Business Development Manager, Martin Koppert, says the acquisition gives Koppert access to the first registered biofungicide for seed treatment in Europe and a closer collaboration with Lantmännen BioAgri. ‘We see great potential in the development of these bacteria and technology for countries outside of Europe and for a wide range of crops. This acquisition fits our strategy to provide ‘on seed’ solutions for a broader range of crops. It will give farmers more sustainable solutions in regions where chemical alternatives are becoming scarcer. In the longer term we see a potential biological solution for Fusarium Head Blight, a disease that causes devastating yield loses in many parts of the world.’