Marrone Bio Innovations (MBI) celebrated its 10^th year anniversary in the biopesticide pesticide on Oct. 11.

“I think this is the most exciting time in the history of agricultural biopesticides,” said Pam Marrone, founder and chief executive officer of the company. “Biologicals are becoming the base of agricultural pest management programs, not just supplements.”

MBI is a leading provider of effective and environmentally responsible biologically-based pest management and plant health products. Marrone is especially proud of MBI’s development of five successful commercial products in its first decade.

MBI celebrated its decade tenure at a luncheon at its headquarters in Davis, Calif. Richard Rominger, former Secretary of USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, emceed the event. Rominger is also a founding member of MBI’s board of directors.

Others on hand for the luncheon included California 3^rd District Congressman John Garamendi who said, “I don’t know of any other company in this industry that could move from being a startup to a publicly traded firm in such a short time.”

Helene Dillard, dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, praised MBI’s work with the university.

“It’s been a perfect collaboration between UC Davis and the private sector,” Dillard said, adding that MBI “is a devoted supporter of the university’s innovators.”