RhizoVital® C5, the Bacillus atrophaeus biostimulant from Swiss group Andermatt, has secured patent confirmation for its cold-tolerance capabilities.

The product’s ABi05 strain remains active at soil temperatures as low as 8°C, while standard Bacillus strains typically become active at 12°C, says the company.

This functionality enables farmers ‘to get a head start when it counts most’, according to the company. Being able to establish stronger early-season root development during cool spring or autumn planting periods can be especially valuable in regions with short growing seasons, said Andermatt in its statement.

The company is expanding the European presence of this product under a unified brand, with registrations already secured in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Poland. In Canada, it’s marketed as C5 Tundrabac®.

As well as cold tolerance, the statement said that RhizoVital® C5 also enhances water and nutrient uptake and reduces drought stress across various crops and applications.

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