Plant Impact reports positive field trial results for potatoes

Plant Impact (AIM: PIM) announced results from field trials, saying its CaT and PiNT products have produced a significant increase in potato crop yields, compared to standard fertilisation and competing products, in the company’s first broad-acre crop trial programme.
                   
Regarding the company’s potato field trial programme, the initial trial results show that CaT and PiNT achieved a significant increase in the number of potatoes grown – between 12.3% to 25.6% - and a significant increase in yield, from 6.7 to 9.4 metric tonnes per hectare.

"This is just one example of how we can extend the number of crops which use our products with significant commercial value to the grower, the distributor and to Plant Impact”, said Plant Impact chief executive Peter Blezard.

“We first tried CaT and PiNT products on potatoes last year and with these excellent field trial results we have developed a programme to extend the number of countries involved in our potato trial from three to eight".

Field trials have been conducted in the UK, the Netherlands and Kenya on six varieties of potatoes by growers and distributors. “Following these encouraging results Plant Impact has extended its potato field trial programme targeted in key potato producing countries, most of them being in Europe”, the company stated.

The field trials include both research standard and commercial demonstration trials. Plant Impact highlighted that it is working with key advisers and advisory bodies in each country and it has had significant development and commercial assistance from key distributors and cooperatives.

According to Plant Impact, distributors and co-operatives have been involved in the initial trials, and they have seen the commercial advantages of using Plant Impact's CaT and PiNT technologies on potatoes.

Furthermore, the company noted the potential scope for the use of its products for the broad-acre crop, according to Plant Impact, the worldwide production for potatoes covers 18.2 million hectares in 159 countries, and it has an estimated market size of £280 million for Plant Impact’s products.

For 2010, Plant Impact is planning 30 potato field trials, with 8 of them to research standard, with yield, quality and storage results being available towards the end of the year. The trials are taking place in 8 countries, and the company noted that 5 of the countries rank among the top producing potato countries in the world in terms of yield.

Plant Impact has developed five technologies, with associated patents, and a broad range of high quality products that it believes represent the future of sustainable agriculture and food production.

PiNT – Plant Impact Nitrogen Technology – PiNT technology is a yield maximizer. It involves a unique controlled Nitrogen release technology that promotes improved growth and vigor. It slows the natural breakdown of desirable amine and ammonium nitrogen to undesirable nitrate and minimizes leaching.

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.  It is geared to improving plant cell function under stress conditions, improving quality and yield.

The company’s other products include an aboitic plant stress reliever, Alethea, and a growth/maturity accelerator called Speedo.

BugOil, Plant Impact’s patented natural plant insecticide, is licensed to Tokyo-based Arysta LifeScience. Through the partnership, Plant Impact is eligible for three milestone payments, with the first received upon signing the agreement, a second when certain regulatory milestones are achieved, and a third when certain sales milestones are achieved.

Plant Impact also agreed a separate deal with Arysta, the exclusive evaluation, development and distribution agreement covers InCa which is a product derived from CaT, Balance and Cocoa Stress Tolerance products, and it extends Plant Impact’s territorial coverage from 24 to 52 countries.