Micropep Technologies, the global leader in micropeptide technology, has officially received classification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its peptide-based biofungicide called MPD-01, which can control specific plant pathogens to improve crop yield and quality.

Promising to do so like a “biochemical-like” active ingredient, Micropep can now engage with the EPA to confirm data and labeling requirements, as it pursues a registration to bring MPD-01 to market. Talk about the biofungicide in question, it is essentially one variant of a naturally occurring micropeptide which happens to be present in tomato plants. However, unlike your conventional pesticides, the micropeptide in question marks a major headway for agricultural science due to its organic origins and a non-toxic mode of action in the context of controlling target pests. Alongside that, MPD-01 is also more selective for the fungal pathogen, as well as effective at lower dose rates, all while simultaneously boasting enhanced biodegradability in the environment. Given the presence of such features, MPD-01 should be able to conceive for you an ideal human and environmental safety profile, thus delivering a sustainable agricultural solution. Markedly enough, the approval for Micropep comes on the back of successful field trials on the micropeptide, trials that were conducted in various locations across the globe, including California, North Carolina, Paraguay, and France. Despite the segregated footprint, though, all these trials came back reinforcing element’s efficiency in managing diseases and boosting crop production, particularly for potatoes, soybeans, and grapes. Not just that, these trials further went on to display how the MPD-01 can be an essential ingredient in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs so to offer preventative and contact crop protection solutions. Finally, the micropeptide’s high level of disease control and significant impact on crop yield also makes it a standout among bio-control competitors.

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“We’ve implemented and used a generative artificial intelligence (AI) pipeline to create a library of thousands of antifungal peptides compatible with proprietary manufacturing rules. The prediction model has been built from public and Micropep-owned experimental data to predict the antimicrobial activity of a peptide,” said Mikael Courbot, CTO of Micropep. “Micropep’s pipeline generated thousands of peptides from a seed sequence and selected those with the highest probability to be active, stable, and producible.”

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Returning to the trials for a more concrete look, Micropep conducted a total of 50 trials on its latest brainchild. Now, if we trust the available details, MPD-01 showcased the knowhow to deliver, contingent upon crop and the environmental conditions, a 75% efficiency in disease control. To put things into perspective, most bio-control competitors barely reach 50%.

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Apart from the one we discussed, Micropep is working on two more peptides called MP594 and MP478 that are already in field, where the lowdown on them has been hugely positive till now. Assuming this remains the case, the company should have the means to conceive a comprehensive line-up of products that can, in their own unique way, address the growing demand for sustainably produced food.

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“We have tested MPD-01 efficacy in research trials over the last three years in soybeans, wheat, and potatoes in South America, and we have seen significant effects of this technology in terms of yield and quality. We expect this innovative and flexible bio-solution will enable growers to conserve scarce resources as they embrace regenerative agriculture,” said Mariano Battista, Director of AgIdea.

Agricult Outlook