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Haven® Sun Protectant Approved in CaliforniaDAVIS, Calif., Jan. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. (NASDAQ:MBII) (MBI), a leading provider of bio-based pest management and plant health products for agriculture, turf and ornamental and water treatment markets, announced that the California Department of Food and Agriculture has approved the use of Haven®. In addition, trials in California over the last two years show that Haven applications resulted in significantly higher almond and walnut yields, compared to competing products. Both almonds and walnuts can suffer yield loss from sun damage. Walnuts are particularly susceptible to sun damage. Sun damage in walnuts darkens and shrivels one side of the shell and kernel1. Sun damaged walnuts result in downgraded status by nut processors and can result in losses of $0.10 to $0.12 per pound for growers (which is the difference between class 1 class 2 in quality)2. Furthermore, if any of the sunburned nuts are rejected rather than downgraded, growers potentially will experience total monetary loss for damaged crops. There are more than 1 million bearing acres of almonds and an estimated 335,000 bearing acres of walnuts3. The active ingredient in Haven is a food-use approved extract derived from coconuts. Use of Haven helps treated plants maintain lower leaf temperatures and reduces heat stress on the crops, resulting in higher yields and quality. When two to five applications are sprayed on crops generally starting at bloom, shortly after bloom or at early fruit/nut set, Haven has shown to reduce sun damage and increase yields for certain apple varieties, almonds, walnuts, soft berries, citrus, grapes, and tomatoes. Haven also increased yields of corn and wheat and turf grass. Haven® Benefits for Almonds 2016 trials on almonds conducted in Arbuckle, CA by Attaway Research: Haven applied three times (0.6% v/v) increased yields above the untreated trees and above the kaolin clay standard. Haven treated almonds experienced a 17.4% increase in tons per acre over the untreated plots and a significant 20% increase in tons per acre higher than the kaolin clay standard. In 2015, trials of an earlier formulation in Upper Lake, CA of the same active ingredient also showed an increase in both size and number of nuts. Haven® Benefits for Walnuts 2016 trials conducted by Helena Research and Development in Biggs, CA: Haven applied four or five times, starting at early nut set, resulted in 11.3% to 17.0% yield increase in tons per acre outperforming the kaolin standard. Haven outperformed the commercial kaolin clay standard. The percentage of sunburned nuts was reduced for all treatments of Haven when applied three, four or five times: 67.2% lower sunburned nuts with three applications, 59.9% lower sunburn with four applications, and 75.0% lower with five applications. Four and five Haven applications resulted in the best increase in nut tonnage per acre. Based on the data above, farmers can achieve a better ROI (return on investment) by using Haven of 5-9X on almonds and 3-5X on walnuts, depending on the number of applications and amount of water used. Unlike most current sun stress products on the market today that form a white, physical barrier to block the sun, Haven brings the added benefit to growers of leaving no visible deposit or residue on the crop. Haven has a different mode of action requiring its application timing to start earlier than other barrier-type products that are applied on more mature fruits and nuts, leaving an unsightly and difficult to remove residue on crops. MBI launched Haven outside of California in 2017, especially for apples in the Great Lakes and eastern US regions. Haven® is another product in MBI’s portfolio approach to develop a full range of solutions for farmers. On almonds, Regalia® Biofungicide has shown excellent control of almond brown rot, scab, shot hole, Alternaria, and powdery mildew and is especially strong in fungicide resistance management programs. Regalia®+copper has always been a strong performer for walnut blight, as good as the standard mancozeb+copper program. Grandevo® and Venerate® are effective against mites, navel orangeworm and peach twig borer and Venerate for walnut husk fly. In the future, MBI expects to deploy Majestene® for nematode control in almonds and walnuts. 1Western Fruit Grower. 2Western Farm Press. 1,2“Fruit Breeding, Nuts” edited by Jules Janick, James N. Moore. 3United States Department of Agriculture. About Marrone Bio Innovations Marrone Bio Innovations is dedicated to pioneering smart biopesticide solutions that support a better tomorrow for both farmers, turf managers and consumers around the globe. For more information, please visit www.marronebio.com. Marrone Bio Innovations Forward Looking Statements Marrone Bio Innovations Contacts: MBI Investor Relations:
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