Funding to support Vive Crop Protection commercial expansion

Vive Crop Protection, based in Toronto, said last week it has closed growth financing to support 2017 commercial expansion.
Private equity firm Radar Capital led the financing, which also included financing from Dicot Holdings, Middleland Capital, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada and Ontario Capital Growth Corp. 
“We are pleased to close this financing round led by investors who understand the real, critical need for new, improved crop protection products,” Vive CEO Keith Thomas said. “Our flagship product, AZteroid, is the first fungicide designed to mix with starter fertilizer for field crop growers. Third-party trials have shown an average yield increase of 8.8 bushels/acre in corn and 2.1 bushels/acre in soybeans, and growers using the product this year have had great results. This capital will help support commercial expansion next year for AZteroid across key U.S. agricultural states.”
Vive Crop Protection focuses on using its Allosperse delivery system to target pesticide active ingredients, helping farmers do more with less burden while increasing crop quality and yields.
“Vive’s Allosperse Delivery System is truly unique, and can help make trusted crop protection products better for growers and better for the environment,” Scott Horner, managing director of Middleland Capital, said. “We have been an investor in Vive since 2012 and have been impressed with the progress that they’ve made. In the past two years, they’ve moved from precommercial development to commercial launch, with excellent grower feedback. We’re excited to support their commercial expansion in 2017 and further development of their pipeline.”