EPA approves fungicide premix with proprietary nanotechnology

azterknot jugThe Environmental Protection Agency has registered AZterknot fungicide from Vive Crop Protection for use on a wide array of crops, including rice, corn, cotton, peanuts and soybeans. 

It is a premix of a traditional fungicide, azoxystrobin, and a biological, an extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis. They are delivered using Allosperse, a proprietary nano-polymer technology developed by Vive that allows previously incompatible products to be mixed and applied in one application, reducing fuel, time and water use, according to a news release.

Nanoparticles used as carriers improve uptake, solubility and product stability and reduce soil leaching, among other benefits. As carriers, they’re also commonly used to entrap, encapsulate, absorb or attach active molecules to develop effective agricultural formulations. Among the common are silica nanoparticles, chitosan nanoparticles, Solid lipid nanoparticles (similar to an amulsion) and layered double hydroxides (types of clay).

“AZterknot is the first step in mobilizing the power of both biological and chemical active ingredients, using our Allosperse technology,” Darren Anderson, Vive CEO, said in the release. “Vive is working on a pipeline of products to integrate a broad range of biological actives with Allosperse and other trusted chemistries to provide grower solutions that were not possible before.”

“One of the greatest challenges for biological products (is) in wide distribution and competition with conventional synthetics,” Joshua Haslun, a senior analyist at Lux Research, said in the release. “Solving for shelf life and compatibility issues when used in combination with synthetic products would be a blockbuster advance for a biological product. With this in mind, Vive’s current partnership with Marrone represents an opportunity to prove the additive value of the Allosperse technology.”

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation also recently registered Vive’s AZteroid FC 3.3 fungicide for use on a number of crops in that state, including rice. It contains the active ingredient azoxystrobin, a Fungicide Resistance Action Committee Group 11.

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