Rehovot, Israel
July 2nd, 2024

Lavie Bio successfully completed testing of Yalos™ for winter wheat and will commence sales across the US for the 2024-2025 season

Lavie Bio Ltd., a leading ag-biologicals company and a subsidiary of Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN, TASE: EVGN), is pleased to announce the commercial expansion of its bio-inoculant product, Yalos™, to winter wheat, following successful trials. This expansion effectively doubles the potential market for Yalos™ compared to markets in which Lavie Bio already operates. Winter wheat growers across the US will have access to Yalos™ for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

Winter wheat is one of the crucial crops in North America and globally, significantly contributing to the agricultural economy and food supply. The US is expected to produce about 1.28 billion bushels in 2024[1], with a market value, according to Lavie Bio’s estimation, between $5-$10 billion annually. Introducing Yalos™ to this market offers substantial potential to capture market share by enhancing crop productivity and sustainability. To date, Lavie Bio has focused on the spring wheat market, along with durum and barley, which together form a smaller market compared to winter wheat.

During the successful field trials, Yalos™ has demonstrated enhanced early vigor, biomass, root and shoot development, nutrient availability, and feed quality in winter wheat. Yalos™ aims to reduce crop abandonment rates and increase farm productivity through advanced biological technologies.

In addition, Lavie Bio is expecting to expand Yalos™ into other key crops, such as soybean and canola, with ongoing field trials in North America and an expected commercial launch in 2025. The US soybean market size is estimated by Lavie Bio at approximately $56.2 billion in 2024.

“We are thrilled to offer Yalos™ to winter wheat growers,” said Amit Noam, CEO of Lavie Bio. “Yalos™ addresses key growth challenges and enhances plant health and yield. Our strategy consistently brings new innovative ag-biological products to the market, while expanding existing products to more crops and regions. This expansion is part of our plan for Yalos™ to become a leading solution for growers in all major field crops, reinforcing our commitment to advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability on a global scale.”

[1] https://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2024/05-10-2024.php

Published: July 2, 2024