Strong uptake of new product

RNS Number : 2091O

Plant Health Care PLC

09 October 2012

 



9 October 2012

PLANT HEALTH CARE PLC

("Plant Health Care" or "the Company")

Significant increase in USA crop area treated with foliar Harpin in 2012

Plant Health Care plc, a leading provider of innovative patent protected biological products to the global agriculture markets, is pleased to announce strong first sales of a novel approach to fungicide resistance management.  Foliar sprays of ProAct (a Harpin-based product), in mixture with triazole fungicides, were applied on approximately 200,000 acres of crops in the USA this season, with outstanding results.  These sales significantly exceeded the company's market share expectations in the first year of commercial sales. The combination is of particular relevance as there is increasing concern about resistance to the strobilurin fungicides currently on the market.

Trials in 2011 conducted by the independent On-Farm Network in Iowa, USA, demonstrated that corn fields treated with a combination of ProAct and propiconazole fungicide delivered as good or better yield increases than those corn fields treated with BASF's market-leading Headline strobilurin-based product, which is marketed with plant health benefits. These findings, coupled with the Company's "Save the Strobies" marketing campaign, helped to drive sales of ProAct in mixture with triazoles up four times greater than the initial expectations of 50,000 treated acres. 

Agricultural scientists across the USA are already seeing strong evidence of resistance developing to strobilurin-based fungicides in the USA, as has already been witnessed in Europe and South America. The combination of Harpin with the post patent fungicide propiconazole, used in rotation with strobilurin based products, is the type of program that has been recommended by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee, an organisation that aims to preserve the efficacy of fungicides on a global basis. 

John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care, commented:

"The strength of the uptake of ProAct and propiconazole in its initial year is a very exciting development for Plant Health Care.  Used together as a rotation product on corn, soybeans and other susceptible crops has proven to be a highly effective method for farmers to mitigate the risk of diseases developing resistance to strobilurin fungicides, while also maintaining the disease control and yield potential they have become accustomed to receiving.  This product provides farmers with a new set of options, which is the basis for our existing agreements with Arysta LifeScience and Makhteshim Agan Industries.  I am delighted by the enthusiastic recognition that our product and marketing message is receiving."

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About Plant Health Care plc: Plant Health Care plc ("Plant Health Care") is a leading provider of patent protected biological products aimed at the agriculture industry and are environmentally beneficial. Through the commercialisation of these products, Plant Health Care is capitalising on current long-term trends toward natural systems and biological products for plant care and soil and water management.

Further information is available at: www.planthealthcare.comor please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]
Stephen Weaver, Finance Director	Tel: [phone] x151
[e-mail]
Nomura Code Securities	Tel: [phone]
Clare Terlouw / Chris Golden
Powerscourt	Tel: [phone]
Paul Durman / Nick Dibden / Sophie Moate

 

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