AgroFresh and Ceradis Ink Distribution Deal for New Organic Biofungicide

Posted by Growing Produce Staff|November 20, 2022

AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. and Ceradis Crop Protection B.V. announced they have entered into an exclusive license and distribution agreement to bring CeraFruta, a new organic bio-solution that fights fungal decay, to the postharvest space. The agreement between the two companies will launch in the U.S., leveraging AgroFresh’s experience working with customers on innovative solutions that reduce food loss and promote sustainable agriculture.”

With Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed status for organic use in the U.S., CeraFruta is a highly innovative solution for broad-spectrum control of postharvest fruit decays including blue mold, gray mold, green mold, brown rot, and anthracnose. CeraFruta also controls mucor and sour rots, postharvest diseases that currently cannot be adequately controlled by industry-standard synthetic fungicides.

The active ingredient in CeraFruta is natamycin, a naturally occurring molecule derived from soil bacteria. Natamycin protects crops from decay by binding and inhibiting the function of fungi-specific cell membranes. This unique mode of action shows a high efficacy level against key post-harvest diseases on a range of crops, including pome fruits, stone fruits, and citrus.

Natamycin has been used in other sectors of the food industry for more than 40 years, including as a food preservative in meats, cheeses, and baked goods, without resistance occurring. CeraFruta is approved and registered by the EPA.

Under the new agreement, AgroFresh will be the exclusive market channel for CeraFruta in the postharvest market in the US.