DAY TWOWednesday, 21 September 2022 - MT (Mexican Pacific Time, GMT-07:00)

• The economic and social impact of pest management today,
• Why we use broad spectrum pesticides,
• How we can solve the problem,
• 4. the future Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and farm sustainability

The following points will be discussed:

1. Company Technology profile
2. Technology and IP Status
3. Registration Status and Market Access Potential
4. Partnership / Investment Goals

• Exploring research programmes and latest microbial field trial results
• The challenges we face and how to deal with such hurdles (stability and efficiency for example)
• Reviewing the science, how our products work - demonstrated with field trial results
• Biological gaps in the market - where do we see potential

Abiotic Stress Management remains one of the most important issues facing the turfgrass and agricultural industries today. As the world supply of potable water declines and with climate change expected to intensify and prolong drought, globally, scientists and growers must assess alternate strategies to improve plant performance under severe stress, water deficit conditions. The objective was to evaluate a novel, naturally-derived compound (biostimulant) to improve turfgrass, ornamentals, forage crops and seedlings performance under several drought stress and non-drought conditions. Greenhouse trials were conducted in 2016 and 2017, and field trials were conducted in 2017 and 2018. Drought and non-drought conditions were tested in the greenhouse with 75% water savings vs. control (water only) and 70 days of drought tolerance (no water) with no loss of visual quality across all six genotypes tested. In addition, root and shoot growth was enhanced vs. Nitrogen control (N check). Moderate drought (75% ETos) and severe drought (50% ETos) conditions were tested in the field with positive results vs. a fully synthetic commercial control. Response variables included total water applied, % water savings vs. control, Volumetric Water Content (VWC), visual quality score, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), hydrophobicity assessment (water droplet penetration test), turf growth and root mass. This novel biostimulant has a significant effect on water savings, drought tolerance and shoot and root development across several species, and even under severe drought conditions, can keep turfgrass visually looking green and vigorous. While the results from these trials were encouraging for turfgrass and other plants, additional research is needed to determine the effect on specialty and row crops.

Human Microbiome technology - transferring this to agriculture