Plant Health Care PLC
21 January 2008
For release: 21 January 2008
PLANT HEALTH CARE PLC
('Plant Health Care' or 'the Company')
Product Update
Advance towards commercialisation of Myconate(R) in cereal crops
Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products for
plants and soils, is pleased to report that, based on the very encouraging
results of its 2007 Myconate(R) test programs in cereals, it has reached
agreement, on a non-exclusive basis, with several large, multi-national
agrochemical/seed companies to move forward in 2008 with testing and potential
commercialisation of Myconate(R) in cereal grain crops such as wheat, barley,
sorghum and oats. The testing partners were selected because of their
geographical reach and significant market share in the cereal grain markets.
These arrangements are a result of the outcome from the first independent tests
of Plant Health Care's Myconate(R) programmes in wheat and barley in the USA.
Following the impressive results demonstrated in wheat in Mexico, reported on 27
June 2007, the latest results demonstrate the efficacy of Myconate(R) in both
winter and spring sown wheat and in spring sown barley. Plant Health Care now
has compelling evidence of yield improvement, when Myconate(R) is applied to
three important representatives of the small cereal grains: wheat, barley and
sorghum.
Winter wheat grain yields were increased across five locations by a range of
5.4% to 9.4% depending on application method, timing and quantity applied.
Spring sown wheat and barley yields were increased by 5.9% and 11.9%
respectively. The results also demonstrated that yield gain was attributable to
increases in both grain number and grain weight.
The forthcoming extensive evaluations will be carried out during 2008. The
Company believes that the test partners, being large global businesses operating
in the agrochemical and/or seed markets, each has the capabilities to conduct
trials, and ultimately commercialise Myconate(R) across cereal crops in Europe,
the Americas and Australia/Asia.
John Brady, Chief Executive of Plant Health Care commented on the results: 'We
are extremely excited to be working with these global companies to develop a
path to commercialisation for Myconate(R) in these very important crops. Due to
the more regional nature of cereal grains we have opted not to grant an
exclusive agreement as we have in the past but have elected to move forward with
several testing partners who have historically demonstrated strengths in each
market.'
'These recent cereal grain tests demonstrated the ability of Myconate(R) to be
effective in a range of climatic conditions and provided us with important data
points when determining the optimal dose rates and timing for application.'
For further information please contact:
Plant Heath Care plc Tavistock Communications
John Brady, Chief Executive Jeremy Carey / Matt Ridsdale
Tel: 020 7920 3150 (21-25 January) Tel: 020 7920 3150
Tel: 001 603 525 3702 (Thereafter)
Evolution Securities Limited
Tim Worlledge / Tim Redfern
Tel: 020 7071 4300
Myconate(R) background
Through the stimulation of endogenous mycorrhizal fungi, PHC's novel Myconate(R)
technology helps crops to develop larger effective rooting volume. Myconate(R)
works by enhancing the growth of beneficial micro-organisms called mycorrhizal
fungi which colonize the roots of crop plants. With more mycorrhizal fungi at
work, each plant can draw more nutrients and moisture out of the soil. More
nutrients make for healthier plants, and significantly greater overall yields.
Plant Health Care believes Myconate(R) could be the key to changing the face of
farming. The safety and ease of application of Myconate(R) means that management
practices need not be over-hauled. The procedure is a straightforward blending
process, either tank mixing the Myconate(R) with the fertilizer during planting,
or applying the Myconate(R) to the seed before planting.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
*A Private Investor is a recipient of the information who meets all of the conditions set out below, the recipient:
Obtains access to the information in a personal capacity;
Is not required to be regulated or supervised by a body concerned with the regulation or supervision of investment or financial services;
Is not currently registered or qualified as a professional securities trader or investment adviser with any national or state exchange, regulatory authority, professional association or recognised professional body;
Does not currently act in any capacity as an investment adviser, whether or not they have at some time been qualified to do so;
Uses the information solely in relation to the management of their personal funds and not as a trader to the public or for the investment of corporate funds;
Does not distribute, republish or otherwise provide any information or derived works to any third party in any manner or use or process information or derived works for any commercial purposes.
Please note, this site uses cookies. Some of the cookies are essential for parts of the site to operate and have already been set. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but if you do, parts of the site may not work. To find out more about the cookies used on Investegate and how you can manage them, see our Privacy and Cookie Policy
To continue using Investegate, please confirm that you are a private investor as well as agreeing to our Privacy and Cookie Policy & Terms.