The team at Harpe Bio continues to make progress on their bioherbicide platform, which could introduce new ways to tackle resistant weeds.
In the past five years, Harpe pinpointed the possibilities of using extracts from a series of plants including several in the mentha family. By the end of 2024, the company leaders expect to have market-ready formulations and seek EPA registration on necessary products.
“We are moving from tech development to distinct products,” says co-founder and chief operating officer Daniel Pepitone. “And we’re working to improve performance consistency and drive down the needed rates for application.”
Harpe is targeting two segments—organic (using plant extracts) and conventional production (using biorational products.)
The organic lineup will include a pre-emergence and a post-emergence product using the plant extracts for its AI.
In conventional production, Harpe sees its products as being tank mix partners with a wide range of chemistries.
To-date the company has done more than 1,000 greenhouse trials and field trials. Results show the Harpe bioherbicide platform can help overcome more than 30 resistant weeds.
“For example, in combination with dicamba, we’re seeing great efficacy,” Pepitone says. “It’s a promising part of our value—to bring value to using chemistries that were once highly effective back into the tank mix.”
Pepitone sees a future with tank mixes and premixes to have Harpe products be used in combination with synthetic chemistries to fill in the gaps and overcome the challenges with resistance.
“We know there are no magic bullets,” he says. “We have a wonderful set of active ingredients, but not every formulation is for every acre. So, we are focused on bringing forward the products that deliver and provide the needed use rates and cost of goods.”
In 2023 Harpe raised a $10.5 investment round, led by ADM, one of the world’s largest mint producers.
Pepitone shares the founders’ goals are to divest the company, and despite the current financial environment, they are still focused on that outcome in the future. But the company is also prepared to launch on their own if the right partner isn’t identified.
“There’s no shortage of weeds for us to kill,” Pepitone says. “Bioherbicides can be effective. And we want to bring products that are validated to work in the systems and production practices they are placed in.”
The Harpe Bioherbicide team is now 20 employees, which Pepitone says is energizing to have grown in head count and product progress.
“The last 10 yards gets harder to cross the goal line. But we’re having a great time. And to see 20 people come to work, putting hands on the technology in the lab, in the greenhouse, in the field, we are making tremendous strides. We’ve got a little more to go. But we just need a little more time, and effort and funding.
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