About Us
Plant impact was formed in the spring of 2003 with a mission statement ‘To become the leading sustainable agriculture business through developing new technologies and effective products that enable the food industry to provide a plentiful supply of good quality healthy food.’ We have been true to this philosophy ever since and see no reason to change.
Plant Impact have developed 5 technologies with associated patents and a broad range of high quality products that represent the future of sustainable agriculture and food production. We are rapidly becoming recognised as the leading plant stress technology specialists and have extensive data to support our claims. We believe our calcium technology product InCa is the most effective product for calcium delivery in todays market. Our green pesticide BugOil is more than a match for most of the leading synthetic standards with none of their downsides. PiNT technology products deliver amine nitrogen in a controlled way that reduces leaching. Speedo brings harvest times forward and increases sugar levels whilst Alethea is a unique stress reliever working at the parts per million concentration level.
Here are some of the milestones that we have achieved along the way.
2003 – Raised private equity to start business then raised further funds through venture capital. Technology and product portfolio starts with 2 patent applications for BugOil and Alethea and development of 2 further technologies CaT and PiNT, with a range of nutrient products and a bio pesticide. Set up distribution partner in Middle East and opened a sales office. Started comprehensive trial programme to prove the products in the extreme conditions of stress that the region has to cope with – the ideal proving ground.
2004 – The Middle East office known as PI MENA (Plant. Impact. Middle. East. North. Africa) develop sales in 6 countries and ramps up the trial programme while commencing product registration. The company travels to China to deliver a paper on white agriculture and hybrid products to a symposium of growers. The company is recognised for its innovation and creativity through a series of business awards - BioNow, Enterprise Champions, the IOD award and the Northwest Business Award. The company announces BugOil technology at the BCPC congress in Glasgow. The BugOil GLP research programme begins. Plant Impact develops strategic relationships with CEMAS and Rothamsted International for trial purposes along with the Waitrose centre for sustainable agriculture at Lancaster University.
2005 - PI MENA develops sales in 12 countries. Distribution is identified for Spain. Nutrient technology is further developed as CaT – Calcium Technology and PiNT – Nitrogen Technology products are rolled out into the portfolio. Nutrient trial programmes start to move on apace and a broad patent estate is filed. A further cash input of £600,000 is invested in the company off the success to date. Plant Impact becomes a plc. The BugOil patent is granted and the company exhibits at the International Horticultural show HortiFair with great success for the first time as well as returning to the BCPC congress to exhibit again. The novel new chemistry behind Alethea is developed and a new molecule is identified. Trials commence in conjunction with Cabi BioScience on the Costa Rican cocoa crop.
2006 – PI MENA working in 30 countries for new sales and developing trials. Two new VC funds provide £1m Pre IPO cash injection. Discussions commence with significant potential global partners for distribution rights. BugOil trial data proves product to be as efficacious as current leading synthetic standards with none of the associated downsides such as residue toxicity. Cocoa trials show 60%yield improvement in first year largely through disease reduction resulting from stress resistance properties of Alethea. Plant Impact becomes listed on AIM in October.
2007 - Miller commences product distribution in US as PI MENA further develops their markets. BugOil registration gets underway in USA and UK. New Nutrient sales Europe USA and Japan. Trial data results prove product efficacy across more markets. Speedo technology proves its value as an additive for accelerating harvest times. Plant Impact is positioned as a world leader in plant stress management. The management team is strengthened with Martyn Pearce heading up global B2B development and Angel Ruiz Serna developing nutrient sales in southern Europe. Plant Impact short-listed for best pipeline at the inaugural Agrow Awards held at the BCPC exhibition in Glasgow. Mike Panteli joins company as Chief Financial Officer. R&D offices opened within Lancaster University complex.
2008 – Excellent start to year with £1.5m placing in the company. Miller sign 5-year distribution deal in US. DVA enter into agreement in Tanzania for pest control in the ornamental market. Plant Impact Atlantic division activated as Mark Horner and Scott Garnett join company to develop sales in global markets. Home market launches InCa at Fruit Focus exhibition. Northern Europe markets targeted for distributors as HortiFair is successfully attended once again. New markets of Portugal Kenya and UAE are opened up. The company is now known as the ‘Future of sustainable crop production’. Long standing non-executive director Bill Thompson is announced as the new Chief Operating Officer. Plant Impact sponsor House of Lords luncheon on food security, sustainable agriculture and climate change.
2009 - First sales generated in new markets of France Poland Kenya and Ghana. Major independent European trials show significant upswing in value for fruit and vegetable growers using InCa. Shelf life firmness quality and shape all greatly improved. Exclusive global licensing deal agreed with Arysta Life Sciences for the sale of BugOil. The USDA agrees to validate PiNT technology against other commercial nitrogen fertilisers. R&D agreement signed with CEMA and Tecsolve (UK) Ltd.
