EcoPhage Partners with Dole to Manage Moko Disease in Bananas

EcoPhage, a leader in development and commercialization of sustainable phage-based (aka “bacteria eaters”) biopesticides for bacterial plant diseases has signed an evaluation and pre-commercialization agreement with Dole Fresh Fruit International, a subsidiary of Dole Food Company (NYSE: DOLE), to apply the Company technology for the control of bacterial plant diseases in Banana.

Moko is a recurring and destructive bacterial disease which is a threat to banana production and requires strict biosecurity protocols and efficient crop protection strategies to prevent spread. The Moko disease (Ralstonia solanacearum) in banana is considered one of the main causes of yield loss, reduction of production and quality damage for farmers in Central and Latin America. To date, very few solutions exist due to the complexity of the disease, resistance issues and regulatory limitations.

EcoPhage has developed sustainable bactericide solutions for bacterial pathogens based on its research and development using a proprietary platform. Its solutions rely on rationally designed bacteriophage cocktails that target and eradicate harmful bacteria on crops. The company’s proprietary technological platform screens its enriched phage collection and then characterizes and selects the promising phage candidates to be used as a basis for highly effective and sustainable phage cocktails for antimicrobial crop protection. EcoPhage only uses non-GMO, naturally occurring phages. These undergo extensive screening, characterization, and selection processes to generate the most efficient “super-phage” cocktails to match the target bacteria.