From Lab to Three Continents: AgroSpheres and FMC Corporation Advance Bioinsecticide Pipeline Into Global Field Trials

FMC and AgroSpheres are moving two RNA-based bioinsecticide candidates into multi-continent field trials after earlier-stage performance against industry standards.

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Two RNA-based biomolecule candidates move into field development across the U.S., Brazil and Asia, marking a major milestone in the companies' multi-year collaboration targeting some of the world's most damaging lepidopteran pests

PHILADELPHIA & CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AgroSpheres, a biotechnology company pioneering breakthroughs in sustainable crop protection and FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a global leader in agricultural sciences, today announced a significant advancement in its ongoing collaboration. Two proprietary RNA-based biomolecule candidates from AgroSpheres' pipeline are now entering global field trial development, marking the transition from discovery into real-world testing across three continents.

"Moving these candidates into the field is an important moment for this partnership," said Payam Pourtaheri, Co-Founder and CEO of AgroSpheres. "It's where the science we've rigorously validated against the industry standard in the lab meets the complexity of real growing conditions, across very different climates and crop systems. That's the true test of a biological product, and we're looking forward to running it side-by-side with FMC."

The candidates, developed under the companies' collaboration first announced in 2024, represent a new category of bioinsecticide aimed at some of the most persistent and economically damaging lepidopteran pests in global agriculture. Just a handful of major moth and caterpillar species, including the fall armyworm and diamondback moth, cause nearly $14 billion in global crop losses and control costs annually, underscoring the scale of the commercial opportunity. Field trials will span key growing regions in the United States, Brazil and Asia, reflecting both the global reach of FMC's commercial footprint and the breadth of the pest pressure growers face across these markets.

The advancement follows a multi-year progression through laboratory, greenhouse and small-scale field-plot testing, where biomolecules were benchmarked directly against industry-standard chemistries and consistently met or exceeded that performance bar before earning advancement to full-scale global trials.

"Innovation in crop protection is about finding new ways to help growers manage pests safely, effectively and sustainably," said Dr. Seva Rostovtsev, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at FMC Corporation. "Field trials are where promising technologies begin to demonstrate their real-world potential across different crops, climates and pest pressures. We're encouraged by the progress to date and look forward to continuing the evaluation of these candidates."

A new approach to pest control: precision through biomodality

At the center of AgroSpheres' pipeline is its biomodality platform, an approach that allows the company to design biomolecules that act on specific, targeted biological pathways within a pest, rather than relying on the broad chemical action of conventional insecticides. In practical terms, this means each product can be tailored to disrupt a pest's biology with a high degree of precision, reducing the chance that pests develop resistance and limiting impact on beneficial insects and the surrounding environment.

Each biomolecule is manufactured through fermentation and delivered using AgroSpheres' proprietary AgriCell platform, the technology that underpins the company's product pipeline spanning multiple pest categories and product types. AgriCell encapsulates the active biomolecule in a way that protects it from the elements that typically degrade biological products in the field, including UV exposure, heat and moisture, allowing it to remain stable and effective long after application. Just as importantly, the encapsulation is engineered for targeted, controlled release, delivering the active ingredient where and when it's needed most for the pest, rather than all at once. It's this combination of durability and precision that is needed to commercialize biologicals reliably, and it's the problem AgriCell was built to solve.

AgriCell's flexibility is also opening new possibilities for how biological actives can work alongside existing crop protection chemistries, creating potential resistance-management strategies that extend the useful life of both new and established active ingredients.

About AgroSpheres:

AgroSpheres is a pioneering agricultural technology company committed to addressing the most pressing challenges in global agriculture. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge science and technology, AgroSpheres is developing innovative solutions to promote sustainable and efficient farming practices on its proprietary AgriCell platform. The company's mission is to revolutionize agriculture, making it more productive, eco-friendly, and capable of feeding the growing global population.

About FMC Corporation:

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn®.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260917231608/en/

AgroSpheres Media Contact:
Valerie Martin
Email: valerie@agrospheres.com
Phone: 612-743-4013

FMC Media Contact:
Nicole Canning
Email: media@fmc.com

Source: AgroSpheres and FMC Corporation

Key Terms

bioinsecticide technical

A bioinsecticide is an insect-control product made from living organisms or natural substances such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or plant extracts instead of synthetic chemicals. Investors care because these products target pests with less environmental impact, meaning growing market demand, different regulatory paths and intellectual-property considerations, and potential for premium pricing or recurring sales as farmers shift toward sustainable, branded solutions.

lepidopteran technical

An insect belonging to the order Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths; lepidopterans are characterized by scaled wings and a life cycle that includes caterpillar (larva), pupa, and adult stages. They matter to investors because they affect markets for agriculture, pest control, environmental services, and biotechnology—like crop damage, biological pest-management products, or ecosystem-impact assessments—so their presence or control can influence company revenues and regulatory risks.

encapsulation technical

Encapsulation is the process of enclosing an active drug or ingredient inside a tiny carrier—like a microscopic bubble, bead or shell—to protect it, control when and where it’s released, or steer it to particular tissues. For investors, encapsulation can raise a product’s effectiveness, safety profile, shelf life and patent value while also changing development costs, manufacturing complexity and regulatory risk, much like redesigning a delivery system for a consumer product.