The Role of Biorationals

Valent BioSciences is a global leader in the development and commercialization of biorational products. The biorational product category includes a broad range of substances used in agriculture, public health, forestry, aquaculture, turf, structural pest control, and home and garden markets.

Biorational products are typically derived from natural or biological origins and include biological pesticides as well as products used for crop stress management, enhanced plant physiology benefits, and root growth management. They are characterized as being highly specific in their activity while delivering distinct economic, health, and/or environmental benefits. 


Why are Biorationals Important?


The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations projects that world population will reach 9 billion people by the year 2050. To meet the demands of this growing population, the world needs technologies that deliver measurable value to food producers, food distribution, and consumers of food and fiber. At the same time, the world also needs technologies that bring value to agencies that govern, regulate, and safeguard diverse peoples and lands.

VBC's portfolio of biorational products figures prominently as sustainable solutions that address each of these challenges. Biorationals deliver value in a way that is consistent with evolving consumer preferences, environmental stewardship, and public policy both in the near- and long-term. Biorationals help to maximize quality, productivity, and sustainability in agricultural production systems, public health (disease vector management) systems, and in other industrial and residential settings.


What Are Biorationals?

Biorational (n.) – The Term used to characterize a broad range of low environmental impact substances or products (such as, but not limited to, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, plant health, industrial and residential areas) typically biologically-derived or, if synthetic, structurally similar and functionally identical to a biologically occurring material with minor differences between the respective stereochemical isomer ratios derived from biological or synthetic origins. Biorationals include biopesticides as well as nonpesticidal products, such as, but not limited to, those that are used for crop stress management, enhanced plant physiology benefits, root growth management, postharvest or as an alternative control agent to pesticides and antimicrobials.

Source: ASTM (known until 2001 as the American Society for Testing and Materials), April 2013