Certis USA Begins Manufacture of CryMax® and Lepinox® Biological Pesticides
COLUMBIA, MD, MAY 29, 2002 – Certis USA, LLC, a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., entered into an agreement to purchase certain assets of the Bt biopesticide and insecticidal nematode businesses owned by Ecogen, Inc. of Langhorne, PA. Certis USA, one of the world's leading producers of biological pesticides, will add CryMax®, Lepinox®, Condor® and other Bt biological insecticides to its Integrated Pest Management (IPM) product line. Under a business transition arrangement between Certis USA and Ecogen, Certis USA will immediately begin manufacturing and selling certain of the Ecogen Bt products. Certis USA expects volume quantities of the products will be available to the growers of high-value crops as soon as July.
In addition to the biological insecticides, Certis USA will also purchase Ecogen's rights in Bt strain libraries for use for microbial applications, and its related product registrations, trademarks, patents or licenses and certain fixed assets.
Dennis Banasiak, president and CEO of Certis USA, said, "Certis USA will be purchasing some of the most potent strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). We'll apply our formulation know-how to these strains and be able to offer growers an ever-expanding product line of improved Bt products in the near future."
Bt bioinsecticides are the most widely used biological pesticides. Bt products are characteristically low in risk to humans, animals and the environment, yet they are highly lethal to Lepidopteran (caterpillar) pests, the primary insect threat to crop production.
Certis USA was established by Mitsui in April 2001. Its products were previously sold under the name of Thermo Trilogy Corporation.
Mitsui & Co., Japan's largest trading company, markets and distributes crop protection products and services directly and through its Certis marketing subsidiaries in Europe, Japan, Africa and the U.S. Global crop protection sales exceed $400 million annually.
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About Certis USA
Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Certis USA is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of biopesticide products for specialty agricultural and horticultural markets and the home and garden market. Certis USA products provide valuable solutions by meeting the challenges faced by today’s growers. For more information about Certis USA, visit CertisUSA.com and follow the company on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
