Key Takeaways
- Lavie Bio announces progress on LAV321 bio-fungicide, achieving 70% efficacy against downy mildew in grape trials.
- LAV321 has also shown over 60% efficacy in trials targeting late blight in tomatoes, comparable to commonly used copper products.
- The bio-fungicide was developed using Lavie Bio’s Biology Driven Design (BDD) platform, powered by Evogene’s MicroBoost AI.
- LAV321 is designed to enhance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, addressing challenges like fungal resistance and environmental sustainability.
- The product has entered the pre-commercial stage, with regulatory processes underway.
Successful Trials Against Downy Mildew and Late Blight
Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., announced significant progress in the development of its bio-fungicide, LAV321, targeting fungal diseases in crops.
Over three years of field trials across Europe, LAV321 demonstrated an average 70% efficacy in controlling downy mildew in grapes, a disease that can cause yield losses of up to 75% in major growing regions. This milestone marks LAV321’s advancement to the final stage of product development ahead of commercialization.
In addition to downy mildew trials, LAV321 was evaluated for controlling late blight in tomatoes during 2024. The trials showed an average efficacy rate exceeding 60%, matching commonly used copper-based solutions, which LAV321 aims to replace. Late blight is a major disease affecting tomatoes and potatoes, with global damages estimated at $6.7 billion annually.
Rising Demand for Sustainable Solutions
The global fungicide market, valued at over $24.5 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $33.27 billion by 2028, driven by a CAGR of 7.9%. With increasing public interest in environmentally friendly farming practices and concerns over fungal resistance to chemical fungicides, ag-biologicals like LAV321 are emerging as essential tools for sustainable agriculture.
Development Through Cutting-Edge Technology
LAV321 was developed using Lavie Bio’s Biology Driven Design (BDD) platform, supported by Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech-engine. The platform enables the discovery and optimization of biological solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing farming practices, enhancing productivity and sustainability while minimizing the risk of resistance development.
CEO Comments on Progress
Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio, expressed confidence in LAV321’s development: “We are very pleased with LAV321’s performance over the last three years of our field trials, as well as in numerous trials conducted by several of our multinational partners. Our target of reaching 70% efficacy against downy mildew this year was successfully achieved, providing validation to our effective solution for key fruit and vegetable diseases, while fitting easily into current IPM practices.”
Noam also announced that LAV321 has entered the pre-commercial stage, with regulatory processes set to begin.
Lavie Bio Latest News
Lavie Bio Announces Yalos® Seed Treatment Expansion to Soybean Market (2024/11/13)
Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., has expanded its bio-inoculant seed treatment Yalos® to soybean crops, following successful field trials in 2024. Yalos®, already available for wheat, durum, and barley in North America, demonstrated an average yield increase of over 5% in soybean trials. The expansion opens substantial new market potential for Yalos® in the US, where soybean acreage totals approximately 86 million. The formulation of Yalos® includes two proprietary microbes designed to enhance crop growth in early stages, improve biomass, and support nutrient uptake.
Grant to Advance ‘MicroFermentor’ Technology for Ag-Biologicals (2024/10/01)
Lavie Bio Ltd. has secured a grant from the Israel Innovation Authority to develop its ‘MicroFermentor’ technology, which aims to improve the delivery of beneficial microbes in agriculture. The technology, which allows beneficial bacteria to multiply directly on plants, reduces application costs, extends product shelf life, and ensures longer viability. The ‘MicroFermentor’ technology addresses market challenges in the ag-biologicals sector, which is growing at a rate of over 13% annually and could reach $33 billion by 2030. Lavie Bio plans to incorporate the technology into its product pipeline and offer it to its collaboration partners.
Expands Yalos™ to Winter Wheat Market (2024/07/02)
Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene, has expanded its bio-inoculant product, Yalos™, to winter wheat in the US. The product, which is expected to be available for the 2024-2025 season, has shown success in field trials, enhancing early vigor, biomass, root and shoot development, nutrient availability, and feed quality in winter wheat. The company plans to expand Yalos™ into other key crops, including soybean and canola, with commercial launch expected in 2025. The US soybean market is estimated to be worth $56.2 billion in 2024. Lavie Bio’s CEO, Amit Noam, expressed excitement about offering Yalos™ to winter wheat growers.
Extend Biofungicide Validation Trials With Bayer Ag (2024/03/20)
Lavie Bio Ltd. has extended its joint validation trials for bio fungicides with Bayer AG after successful lab and greenhouse testing. The trials will now move to field experiments, marking an important step in the product’s development. Bayer Crop Science‘s Head of Biologics highlighted the significance of the collaboration, emphasizing the potential for innovation in bio fungicides. Lavie Bio’s CEO expressed enthusiasm for the progression to field trials, emphasizing the business potential and global impact of the product.
Partners With Ceres Global Ag Corp. To Promote Regenerative Agriculture (2024/03/14)
Lavie Bio Ltd. and Ceres Global Ag Corp. have teamed up to integrate Lavie Bio’s YalosTM bio-inoculant into Ceres’ sustainability and regenerative agriculture initiatives across North America. This collaboration reflects a shared vision to advance sustainable agricultural practices, with Ceres committed to regenerative agriculture to combat climate change. Lavie Bio aims to transform the crop input sector by developing biological alternatives to traditional synthetic products. Ceres’ decision to include YalosTM in its 2024 crop-year program highlights a commitment to innovation and support for regenerative agricultural practices.
Secures $2.5M Payment from Corteva (2024/02/29)
Lavie Bio Ltd. has completed a pivotal financial agreement with Corteva, marking a crucial step in advancing sustainable agricultural technologies. Lavie Bio’s bio-fungicide products, born from their BDD technology platform, are aimed at critical agricultural issues. Following the initial $2.5 million payment, Lavie Bio secured the remaining $5 million. The partnership with Corteva sets the stage for future financial gains and showcases the power of combining advanced computational biology with practical agricultural needs.
Strategic Partnership with WinField United Canada (2023/12/06)
Lavie Bio has partnered with WinField United Canada for the exclusive distribution of their bio-inoculant seed treatment, Yalos™. This partnership is aimed at expanding the company’s presence in key regions of Canada – Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. Yalos™ has proven to be a game-changer in agriculture, showing a notable yield increase in wheat, durum, and barley. Lavie Bio utilizes advanced computational predictive platforms and AI technologies to develop novel bio-inoculants and bio-pesticides for sustainable agricultural productivity. WinField United Canada is Canada’s leading agricultural distributor.
Expands Yalos™ to Durum and Barley (2023/11/29)
Lavie Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd., has expanded its flagship product, Yalos™, to include durum wheat and barley, after successful field trials in 2023. Yalos™ is a seed treatment solution that optimizes soil nutrients, reduces the impact of environmental stress, and increases crop yields. The expansion significantly increases Yalos™’s addressable market in the US and Canada by ~40%. The company plans to continue its commercial growth and innovation trajectory by expanding to additional crops in the United States, Canada, and other regions.
Lavie Bio and Corteva Enter Licensing Agreement (2023/07/18)
Lavie Bio and Corteva have partnered to bring innovative microbiome-based ag-biological products to farmers globally. The company’s BDD platform, powered by Evogene’s MicroBoost AI tech engine, uses big data, artificial intelligence, and advanced informatics to develop bio-stimulant and bio-pesticide products. Corteva’s market leadership and scale-up capabilities complement the company’s expertise. This partnership aims to provide effective, environmentally friendly, and sustainable solutions to combat agricultural challenges like fruit rots and powdery mildew.
Lavie Bio’s Thrivus™ Receives Regulatory Approval in Canada (2023/05/25)
Lavie has received regulatory approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for its bio-inoculant seed treatment, Thrivus™. The product enhances the production of Hard Red Spring Wheat, improving the availability and efficiency of soil nutrients while mitigating environmental stresses. Thrivus™ has already demonstrated its efficacy during the 2022 growing season in the United States, with an average yield increase of 3-4 bushels per acre and delivering a 4x return on investment for farmers. The company plans to expand the application of Thrivus™ beyond Spring Wheat to other crops such as barley, durum, oats, and other field crops in the coming year.
Image provided by Lavie Bio
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