This time of year, many of the AgriThority® small-plot trials are wrapping up. Small-plot trials continue to be extremely important in the early development process. They help determine the efficacy of a product that has been proven in a lab environment before moving into mass production and large plot testing with more variables.
One example is the biofungicide small-plot trial program for five high-margin crops in the eastern U.S. during the 2021 growing season. The tests in cucurbits (cucumber and watermelon), pecans, peanuts, blueberries, and hemp delivered data and potential Best Management Practices for control of commercial relevant diseases. These destructive diseases can cause the complete loss of any of these high value crops. Having alternative choices also could help reduce the probability of disease resistance against conventional synthetic fungicides. In the first of two years of trials, the results determine if the efficacy of the product meets or exceeds market-leading conventional synthetic fungicides or other biological alternatives available for these crops.
For some crops, such as hemp, not many fungicidal products are registered for use. According to Business Wire, the global industrial hemp market attained a value of USD 4.7 billion in 2020, and the market is projected to further grow at a CAGR of 22.5% between 2021 and 2026 to reach a value of USD 14.6 billion by 2026.
That would mean there is potential in the hemp market for products like the new biofungicides we tested this year, along with uses in other high-value crops.
When your agricultural technology is moving from Research to Development or into new markets, AgriThority has the technical, business, market, and product development expertise to supplement or expand your internal capabilities.
With 40+ Internationally recognized leaders connected to more than 300 local specialists in a worldwide network, we bring deep experience testing more than 170 new technologies across 1500+ field trial locations for 180+ multi-national, mid-size, and start-up companies.