In 2022, positive results were obtained for LAV311 and LAV321 in a series of field trials for testing protection against fruit rot, hops and foliar diseases
Lavi Bio Ltd., a subsidiary of Evogen Ltd. (NASDAQ: EVGN, Tel Aviv: EVGN) which operates in the field of ag-biologicals, and focuses on improving food quality, sustainability and agricultural productivity through microbiome-based products, announced today on progress in its product development plans for biological fungicides, LAV311 and LAV321, based on successful results from field trials, conducted in 2022.
Current efforts to protect crops from fungal diseases are heavily dependent on the use of chemicals, with global sales of fungicides estimated at $21 billion in 2022 and expected to grow at a 6.4% growth rate in the coming years. As a result of the increase in the resistance of fungi to the chemicals available today, and the public interest in more environmentally friendly practices, there is a growing demand for new, more effective and long-term sustainable solutions to reduce the use of chemicals.
The biological fungicides in development by Lavie Bio, LAV311 and LAV321, were developed using its BDD platform, which uses the technological engine developed by Evogen, MicroBoost AI, which leverages big data and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
The biological fungicide LAV311 of Lavie Bio is based on a microbial strain of natural origin that competes with harmful fungi for space and nutrients of the plant. It targets fruit rot diseases such as botrytis and wilts, which affect a wide variety of plants, including fruits and vegetables, and especially vines, and lead to significant damage to the crop. The performance of LAV311 was found to provide improved protection against these diseases, with better efficacy and consistency than similar existing commercial biologics. In some trials LAV311 was even competitive compared to commercial chemical products.
These positive results provide further support for Lavi Bio's plan to commercialize LAV311 for use in fruits and vegetables in 2024 (assuming approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), following the application submitted by Lavi Bio at the end of 2022).
The biological fungicide LAV321 of Lavi Bio targets diseases from the group ofoomycetes, and especially for hops. The hop blight is a fungal disease that spreads quickly and causes significant damage and crop reduction. The effectiveness of LAV321 is due to the production of active compounds produced by it that have direct activity on the fungus.
During 2022, various experiments were carried out to test the protection provided by the product in vines against hops, and in potatoes and tomatoes against cumin. Preliminary results have generally shown improved efficacy compared to equivalent biological products. In 2023 we intend to expand the number of field trials for this product under development.
Dor Kastcher, VP of Business Development at Lavi Bio: "We are very pleased with the progress of our in-house fungicide programs, which focus on providing biological solutions to key fruit and vegetable diseases. The positive results of LAV311 in relation to botrytis and downy mildew in vines, may open up a significant potential market for us in the USA and Europe. Our product provides growers with a new tool to reduce chemical residues in the spraying program, thereby also reducing the negative impact on the environment, while providing them with high efficiency, similar to that of the chemicals available today. In the coming year, we plan to expand the potential uses for LAV311, by expanding its application to additional crops, while continuing to improve product activity and production costs."
"LAV321 has the potential to provide a solution to a challenge that in recent years has become significant for growers, as the use of traditional agricultural chemicals against hops is increasingly limited worldwide. The results of the trials in 2022 show that we are on the right track to expanding the product for use in additional crops and against additional diseases, such as the cumin."
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