MustGrow Receives California Registration and Organic Approval for TerraSanteᵀᴹ Biofertility Product
11 May 2024, Canada: MustGrow Biologics Corp. (TSXV:MGRO) (OTC:MGROF) (FRA:0C0) (the “Company” or “MustGrow”) is pleased to announce receipt of the California Department of Food Agriculture registration approval for its mustard plant-based TerraSanteTM, an organic biofertility product. MustGrow’s TerraSanteTM has also received organic certification from California’s Organic Input Material (OIM) Program, a specific California requirement beyond MustGrow’s existing Organic OMRI Listed® certifications in Oregon and Washington State.
TerraSanteTM product sales are now authorized to commence in California. The registration and certification are an important step in MustGrow’s commercialization strategy with BioAg Product Strategies to develop and commercialize MustGrow’s soil amendment and biofertility technologies, including TerraSanteTM. In addition to California, and recently-awarded Oregon and Washington State, MustGrow expects to continue its efforts towards further state-level registrations in other pertinent U.S. states.
BioAg Product Strategies owner, Tim Lichatowich, remarked, “There has been tremendous buzz surrounding TerraSanteTM since recent state registrations were awarded. TerraSanteTM has a lot of the characteristics in a product that producers are looking for, making it an exciting advancement for organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture in California.”
MustGrow’s TerraSanteTM product complements the Company’s existing biocontrol programs in preplant soil fumigation, postharvest food preservation, and bioherbicide, which are currently under development with four global partners: Bayer, Sumitomo Corporation, Janssen PMP, and NexusBioAg.
The Market Opportunity in California
Over a third of U.S. vegetables and nearly three-quarters of U.S. fruits and nuts are grown in California. In 2022, the market value of agricultural products sold in California totaled $59.0 billion USD, up $13.8 billion USD from 2017. Relevant categories for TerraSanteTM include:
- Grapes — $5.54 billion
- Almonds — $3.52 billion
- Lettuce — $3.15 billion
- Strawberries — $2.68 billion
- Pistachios — $1.86 billion
- Tomatoes — $1.46 billion
- Carrots — $1.11 billion
(all USD)(1)
California organic product sales totaled $14.0 billion USD in 2021, an increase of 16.4 percent from the prior year. Organic production encompasses over 2.13 million acres in the state.(2) MustGrow believes its TerraSanteTM organic biofertility product will position California farmers to meet increasing demand for organic, local, and healthy produce.
TerraSanteTM for Soil and Ecological Health
MustGrow’s soil amendment and biofertility development programs focus on soil microbiome health, nutrient and water use efficiencies, and plant yields. Soil is a farmer’s most valuable asset, and MustGrow’s mustard plant-based technologies are being developed with the intention to improve not only the health of the soil, but also the surrounding ecological environment.
As an organic biofertilizer in soluble mixable form, TerraSanteTM contains nutritious plant proteins and carbohydrates that feed soil microbes, potentially improving beneficial microbial activity and ensuring long-term sustainable soil health. These targeted micro-communities have been shown to work to improve nutrient availability, which can potentially increase plant vigor and yields, while reducing plant stress. TerraSanteTM has the potential to improve crop nutrient uptake and, hence, overall crop performance. There are no artificial additives or preservatives used during its manufacturing.
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