InCa nutrient technology shows significant up swing in value for fruit and vegetable growers
Plant Impact plc a developer of technologies that improve crop productivity, is pleased to announce new independent trial results, carried out by French organisation EURION Consulting, specialists in regulatory approvals of agricultural input products. Although the data from the trials are at the interim stage, the results demonstrate that standard use programmes of the Company’s product InCa produce significant statistical improvements to key value drivers for salad and fruit vegetable yield. InCa is modelled on Plant Impact’s proprietary CaT technology that 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. Our commitment to address the sustainable use of precision crop nutrition to grow high value produce further strengthens our belief of strong commercial viability.”
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.
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. | 
