Ahead by a century: Family-owned company manufactures next-generation biofungicides
Founded at the end of the 19th century, Lallemand Inc. began its journey by providing raw materials for the baking industry. In 1915, company founder Fred Lallemand built a production plant in North America – the first plant to produce baker’s yeast – which is still operational today.
Throughout the 20th century, the company became a key producer of baker’s yeast and began exploring additional global markets with yeast, bacteria and biological products in sectors like brewing, human health and animal nutrition. The company started its Plant Care division in the mid-2000s. Today, Lallemand Plant Care has grown to be a global leader in the development, production and marketing of biological plant protection, biostimulant and bionutrition products that improve crop productivity and resilience while promoting human safety and environmental health.
“Microbial solutions are complex, but they are critical for sustainable and healthy operations,” says Matthew Krause, Technical Lead, Covered Crops at Lallemand Plant Care. “Growers should consider looking to a company with years of expertise in research and production of biological formulations. At Lallemand, we have been focused for over 100 years on developing, producing and continuously improving microorganism-based products that benefit users in many industries. This sound experience combined with our extensive technical and practical understanding of crop production and plant microbiology has enabled us to improve existing and develop new technologies to support the biology and nutrition of the plant and defend against soil-borne and foliar diseases.”
According to Krause, the standard that sets Lallemand apart is its science-based approach from the lab to the field or greenhouse. “We have researchers around the world committed to ensuring our microbial active ingredients and formulations reliably promote plant productivity and soil health. With more and more synthetic chemical products coming off the market, horticultural growers are looking for solutions to help them grow profitably.”
It’s this commitment that has resulted in two unique, highly effective EPA-Registered and OMRI-Listed biofungicides that protect against soil-borne and foliar diseases for horticulture producers.
LALSTOP K61 WP biofungicide is effective against many root diseases, including those caused by pathogenic species and biotypes of Fusarium, Pythium and Macrophomina. This biofungicide leaves no toxic residues and keeps plants functioning better, longer. In trials looking at the impact of a LALSTOP K61 WP treatment program on strawberries under moderate to high Fusarium Wilt or Macrophomina Charcoal Rot disease pressures in California, results showed a 50-60 per cent reduction in disease severity and a 190-240 per cent increase in marketable yield for the entire crop.
The second biofungicide, LALSTOP G46 WG, is a concentrated wettable dry granule formulation for foliar spray and soil applications that leaves no visible or toxic residues, even after multiple applications. This biofungicide is effective against foliar pathogens such as Botrytis species, powdery mildews and Didymella bryoniae, and soil-borne pathogens like pathogenic Pythium and Rhizoctonia species.
For over 100 years, Lallemand has been at the forefront of microbial science. Since the company’s inception, the determination to develop innovative products and processes as a team has guided the company’s activities and success. The family-owned company (acquired by the Chagnon family in 1952) has production facilities, distribution centers, laboratories and offices in 45 countries across five continents.
“It’s this global presence and our active involvement with growers, distribution partners and crop advisors that enables us to continue recognizing horticultural growers’ needs and delivering the innovations that effectively fill them,” added Krause.
For more information about Lallemand Inc. please visit www.lallemandplantcare.com.