Summit Agro has been licensed by AgBiome to launch Howler, a microbicide, in Argentina

Summit Agro held a series of events in Argentina to showcase Howler, a biologic product designed to improve biological and abiotic stress in soybeans, wheat and barley.

Howler® Fungicide, AgBiome's flagship product, is a highly effective microbial-based tool with multiple modes of action that provides preventative and long-lasting activity against a wide range of soilborne and foliar diseases at all stages of crop growth. Howler is considered to be a bioinducer, bioactivator, which is a new natural protein extracted from the fungal pathogen of strawberry (called Acremonium Strictum SS71), which can activate and enhance the plant's defense ability. Improve plant protection against different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. AgBiome previously granted Summit Agro exclusive distribution rights for Howler® fungicide in Mexico.

Howler is registered on soya, wheat and barley and is prophylactic and must be applied before the onset of stress for maximum effectiveness. Various tests conducted throughout the country have shown that the average yield of soybeans can reach 100 kg/ha, with a good cost-benefit ratio.

Summit Agro is very interested in developing such biological products and is working to expand their use to other crops, such as corn, sunflowers and other regional crops. Howler acts as an inducer for plant defense systems and can be mixed with chemically derived products, such as herbicides, according to the manufacturer. Incorporating Howlers into crop growth management plans helps reduce chemical residues.

Ayelen Gago, head of pesticide products at Summit Agro Argentina, said: Biological stresses, where disease is the most prominent issue, and abiotic stresses, where climatic conditions are the main issue, with La Nina causing water stress to crops in the last three campaigns, Summit Agro stressed the importance of incorporating products with lower metabolic costs, such as Howler, into crop growth management plans, This is because they can be applied without forcing the crop to use a lot of energy, thus improving overall growing conditions and ultimately increasing yields.