BioBoost - An Innovative Biological Growth Promoter for Canola by BrettYoung

Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, privately owned BrettYoung Seeds has been a premium forage seed company in Canada since 1934. However, in recent years they are not only focusing on seeds but are expanding to include innovative value-added biological growth enhancement products.

In the past 10 years, BrettYoung has heavily invested in research and development of environmentally friendly, biological plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR.) A PGPR is defined by bacteria from the root region (rhizobacteria) that colonizes plant roots and stimulate plant growth. Through extensive R&D, BrettYoung has launched two unique PGPR products: a canola seed treatment, BioBoost®, and a soybean seed treatment, BioBoost® Plus.

Lloyd Dyck, Chief Executive Officer of BrettYoung Seeds, explained, “Our recent accomplishment was in developing a state-of-the-art microbiology laboratory on the company premises and then utilizing this facility to develop a new PGPR inoculant, BioBoost® for canola, which is the first PGPR inoculant registered in Canada by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA.)”

Currently under experimentation is corn, alfalfa, cereals and turf by BrettYoung’s research and development team. “These new PGPR based inoculants are patent protected and exclusively owned by BrettYoung. Therefore, with proper formulations we should be able to get into the North American market as well as other markets quite easily with a huge competitive advantage” says Dr. Manas Banerjee, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Business Development at BrettYoung Seeds.

What is BioBoost®?

BrettYoung’s new patented seed inoculant, BioBoost®, was developed through the use of the patented PGPR, Delftia, which is a bacteria from the root region (rhizosphere) that colonizes plant roots and stimulates plant growth.

Features of BioBoost®:

• Naturally occurring PGPR inoculant for canola
• Sterile peat based formulation
• Helix Xtra fungicide compatible
• 44 days on-seed window with Helix Xtra fungicide
• Better vigor and healthier plant
• 8% canola yield increase
• Environmentally friendly biological seed treatment

BrettYoung is also developing a liquid formulation of BioBoost® that will be used as a foliar application on canola and potentially other crops.

What is BioBoost Plus?

BioBoost® Plus is the first dual action PGPR technology that combines BrettYoung’s patented Delftia and nitrogen fixing Bradyrhizobium in one package that is easy to apply on seed and boosts soybean growth, development and yield.

“BioBoost® Plus utilizes the synergy of two superior bacteria working together resulting in the higher net return potential for soybean growers,” Banerjee explained.  Dyck reiterated, “Initially BioBoost® Plus was just a peat based product but as per the end-users demand, BrettYoung quickly developed a liquid formulation of BioBoost® Plus, a seed applied dual action growth promoter that maximizes soybean yield.”

Features of BioBoost® Plus:

• Naturally occurring PGPR based soybean growth promoter
• Sterile liquid formulation
• Apron Maxx, Cruiser Maxx and Trilex fungicides compatible
• Better vigor and healthier soybean plant
• Enhance nodule number in plant
• 5-7% soybean yield increase
• Environmentally friendly biological seed treatment

Potentials for Growth Promoters:
The current market potential of BioBoost® to be applied in canola is about 14 million acres in western Canada and 1.3 million acres in the northern United States. With the emphasis on biofuel generated from canola, the Canadian canola acreage is expected to be over 16 million acres within 5 years with some expansion expected in the U.S. canola market as well. Beyond North America, there is a huge European rapeseed market that exists for BioBoost® as well.

The potential market for BioBoost® Plus is even greater with over 75 million acres of soybeans grown in North American.  Additionally, a large market exists in South American, particularly in Brazil and Argentina.

BrettYoung’s BioBoost® technology was selected as one of the Top Ten New Technology in 2005 in Canada by the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers.
With the commercial launch of BioBoost® and BioBoost® Plus, the company has already seen the substantial demand for PGPR products in Canada and the United States.  PGPR will continue to make headlines in coming years as it expands into a wider array of crops.

For further information on PGPR products, please contact Andy Steinberger at andy.steinberger@brettyoung.ca. www.brettyoung.ca