21st May 2009 10:12
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Press release |
21 May 2009 |
Plant Impact plc ("Plant Impact" or "the Company")
Plant Impact Unveils Independent European Field Trial Results
InCa nutrient technology shows significant up swing in value for fruit and vegetable growers
Plant Impact plc (AIM:PIM), a developer of technologies that improve crop productivity, is pleased to announce new independent trial results, carried out by EURION Consulting. Although the data from the trials are at the interim stage, the results demonstrate that standard use programmes of the Company's InCa technology produce significant statistical improvements to key value drivers for salad and fruit vegetable yield. InCa is modelled on Plant Impact's proprietary CaT technology which targets calcium nutrition in plants with fine precision to the harvestable parts using a fraction of the calcium consumed by competitor products.
InCa displayed improvements in both weight of produce compared to existing standard treatments, and to the performance of competitive alternatives. Crucially, shelf life was extended by 4-10 days compared to rival technologies, giving producers a commercial advantage in supplying quality produce to the markets whilst significantly reducing the high levels of waste associated with leaf production.
Highlights of the improvements to crop quality included extra weight, increased number of leaves and better post harvest storage in lettuces. The cucumber trials, staged at Montpelier University in France, showed that the use of InCa enhances key supermarket measurements including firmness, diameter and straightness. Further trial results for both these vegetables are in the pipeline with more data to be released at a later date.
Commenting on the trial results, CEO, Peter Blezard, said: "These independent trials conducted in a Government approved research station in Europe proves that our technology statistically out performs leading competitors with better results. Plant Impact's commitment to address the sustainable use of precision crop nutrition to grow high value produce, further strengthens our belief of strong commercial viability."
For further information, please contact:
Peter Blezard +44 (0) 1772 733 744
Chief Executive Officer
Plant Impact Plc
Emily Morgan/Nick Harriss +44 (0) 207 489 4500
Blomfield Corporate Finance Ltd (Nomad)
Nicholas Malins-Smith/James Wood +44 (0) 207 382 4451
Religare Hichens, Harrison plc (Broker)
Anna Dunphy / Tristan Jervis +44 (0) 207 861 3838
Financial PR/IR
De Facto Communications
Notes to Editors
About Eurion Consulting
Eurion Consulting are located in France. Eurion specialise in regulatory approvals of agricultural input products.
About Plant Impact plc
Plant Impact addresses the increasing global demand for effective, sustainable and ecologically-sound products to combat environmental plant stress and improve crop productivity. Common environmental plant stresses include drought, salinity, nutrient deficiencies, pests and disease. Plant Impact's advances produce practical results that reduce inputs and benefit the whole of the agricultural value chain, providing solutions for growers, food manufacturers and consumers.
A broad product portfolio has been developed using these innovative and proprietary technologies, the most advanced of which are already being marketed and sold through established agricultural distribution networks. Products for the home and garden market are also distributed direct to consumers through reputable high street stores.
Current Plant Impact technologies include:
Alethea® - resistance to climate, water and salt stress
CaT - higher yield, improved shelf life, reduction of physiological disorders
Speedo™ - accelerated plant growth
PiNT™ - higher yielding stronger plants
BugOil® - benign pest control
About CaT
CaT technology is a calcium absorption aid. In trials it has been found to deliver calcium to the plant up to 50 times more effectively than traditional calcium products and with fewer applications and less input.
CaT alleviates the problems encountered by growing crops under environmental stress (drought, heat, cold) and physiological diseases in the ongoing development of the fruit that are often due to calcium deficiencies. This technology enables calcium uptake and retention in the tissues of the plant that would not naturally absorb calcium under normal growing conditions.
The Company has recently produced results that demonstrate the efficacy of its technology in trials with lettuces, strawberries, apples and pears. The trials were carried out in the Netherlands by independent research companies and in the USA by Miller Chemical. The improvement in yield and disease control has been material across the range of trials conducted, in particular, a 15% yield increase in lettuce, a 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare increase in strawberries, a 60% decrease in bitter pit on apples and a 75% reduction in alfalfa greening disorder on pears were recorded.
For further information please visit www.plantimpact.com
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