Environmental & Social Information • Nov 22, 2017
Environmental & Social Information
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PRESS RELEASE
Lyon, November 22nd , 2017- AMOEBA (FR0011051598 - AMEBA), producer of a biological biocide capable of eliminating bacterial risk in water and wound care applications, announced today the positive results of in vitro trials conducted with Willaertia Magna C2c Maky microorganism for the control of plant diseases.
Those in vitro trials were carried out by the company CONIDIA, recognized for its broad expertise in fungi and their resistance to fungicides.
The results highlight the possibility to use Willaertia Magna C2c Maky as a biocontrol agent* on pathogens resistant to fungicides, like mildew or Botrytis, fungi that are responsible for grapevine disease. Willaertia magna C2c Maky could therefore be used as a preventing treatment for plant protection.
This breakthrough opens the door to an alternative to pesticides as promoted by the 2009/128/CE European directive translated in France by the Ecophyto II plan, that calls for reducing by half the use of pesticides by 2025. This plan is aimed not only at reducing the risks and effects of the pesticides use on human health and to the environment, but also to reduce dependence on pesticides.
AMOEBA has filed a patent application and continues to develop this application, in particular with greenhouse tests in summer 2018 followed by tests in fields in 2019. At the end of the greenhouse tests, the Company could start discussions on a potential partnership with a market player.
The global market for pesticides is estimated at € 51.2b**. The segment of biocontrol is experiencing a growth per annum of 15 to 20% representing a market worldwide of € 1.6b***.
« This work is in line with the integrated management where predicting tools to detect plant pathogens are combined with biocontrol solutions like AMOEBA's product. This solution perfectly matches the
objectives of creating efficient and environment friendly biocontrol tools. » stated Sébastien VACHER, Global Manager at CONIDIA.
« We have just reached an exceptional milestone in opening a vast and new application in agriculture. The increase in biocontrol products demand is supported by a population becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues and also by the performance of biocontrol solutions as an alternative to pesticides. » added Fabrice PLASSON, Managing Director of AMOEBA.
* The biocontrol covers all the methods for crop protection using live organisms or natural substances. It is based on the management of the ecological balance of aggressor populations rather than their elimination using phytochemical products. ** Worldwide Turnover of pesticides sales in 2015. Source UIPP, Repères 2016-2017.
***Biopesticides Worldwide Market 2013, CPL, Wallingford, UK
CONIDIA is a laboratory specialized in the study of interactions of microorganisms with their environment. We use tools combining image analysis, classical microbiology and molecular biology allowing us to work on a large number of matrices (Air, water, soil ...). Thanks to our subsidiary CONIPHY studying resistance of plant diseases agents, particularly vine and cereals pathogens, we are today the French leader in the study of fungi in the environment. Based at Quincieux (Lyon, France), we are working on the development of new methods and are behind several patents for our customers.
AMOEBA group's objective is to become the global leader in eliminating waterborne bacterial risk in water treatment and wound care applications. Our solutions represent alternatives to chemical products widely used in the cooling water treatment and the wound care market. In a global market for chemical biocides estimated to be worth EUR 21 bn(1) AMOEBA is focusing on the industrial cooling tower application estimated at EUR 1.7 bn(2). Similarly, in a global wound care market estimated at EUR 15.2bn(3), AMOEBA is targeting the chronic wound care market in the USA, estimated to be worth EUR 751 million(4). The use of Willaertia magna C2c Maky in health care products will be subject to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) clearance in the USA. AMOEBA's biological biocide for water treatment, BIOMEBA, has not yet been granted marketing authorization in the USA, Europe and Canada. AMOEBA is taking the required regulatory steps to be granted marketing authorization in those regions for the use of BIOMEBA in cooling water systems. Based in Chassieu (Lyon, France), AMOEBA is quoted on compartment C of the Euronext Paris stock exchange and joined the CAC® Small index on 21st September 2015. More information on www.amoeba-biocide.com.
(1): Sources combined by Amoeba from water treatment agencies, Freedonia, Eurostat and MarketsandMarkets
(2): Amoeba data combined from the following sources: DRIRE 2013, Eurostat, ARHIA 2013
(4) BCC Research, "Markets for Advanced Wound Management Technologies," Wellesley, MA, 2017.
(3) marketsandmarkets.com, "Wound Care Market by Product, Wound Type, End User - Global Forecast to 2021," 2016.
Nathalie COMBROUSSE Marketing Communication Manager Tel. : +33 (0)4 81 09 18 15 [email protected]
Ghislaine GASPARETTO Financial Communication Tel. : +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11 [email protected]
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