4 June 2024
Plant Health Care
plc
("Plant Health Care" or the "Company")
California Approves Expanded
Crop Group Product Label for Employ®
Plant Health
Care® (AIM.PHC.L), a leading provider of peptides
used by growers to improve crop production and quality within
global agriculture markets, is pleased to announce the approval of
an expanded product label which lists a range of new crops approved
for foliar applications of Employ®
(Harpinαβ) within
high value markets in California with
Wilbur-Ellis®, one of the largest U.S. retailers of
agricultural products.
Highlights
- The expanded Employ product label
allows use of Employ on a wide variety of crops and crop groups
including citrus, berries and small fruits, pome and stone fruit
trees, brassica and other vegetables including root and tuber
vegetables, as well as field crops including cereals, corn, and
oilseeds.
-
Efficacy claims are focused in California on the suppression
of nematode egg production within the rhizosphere of Employ treated
crops.
-
Extensive field trials denote crop safety, indicate commercially
acceptable efficacy, and suggest improved grower return on
investment across a variety of California crops.
-
Wilbur-Ellis has been the exclusive distributor of Employ
since 2019 across the U.S. in the specialty crops market, which is
estimated to be over 8 million acres in the U.S.
The California Department of
Pesticide Regulation ("CDPR") has approved the expanded Employ
product label, building upon the initial CDPR approval received in
2020 which allowed the use of Employ on tree nuts and grapes for
the suppression of nematode egg production. Plant-parasitic nematodes have a significant impact on
California agriculture, causing severe crop losses, reduced yields
and quality, and stunted crop growth.
Employ is a recombinant protein that
acts as a biochemical pesticide, activating the innate defense
system within treated plants and leading to consistent and
commercially acceptable protection of roots from nematode damage as
part of an integrated pest management and crop production system.
Outside of California, Employ is used to improve plant vigor, yield
and crop quality while suppressing nematode egg production. The
Company sells Harpinαβ through strategic distributors and partners
around the world.
Compared with alternative biological
products, Employ brings highly consistent product efficacy across a
broad spectrum of application and environmental conditions and
proven return on investment. Additionally, Employ brings growers
convenience as it is compatible with many commonly used fungicides,
herbicides, and insecticides in tank-mix and sequential application
programs. Employ has no special requirements for storing or
handling, which allows greater flexibility within the distribution
channel and ease of on-farm application.
Jeff Tweedy, CEO of Plant Health Care,
said: ‟Wilbur-Ellis has been
successfully promoting Employ since 2019 and I am pleased that
following this new approval, Employ will be available to additional
growers in California to support their production goals across an
expanded range of new crops in this high value market.
"The expanded Employ California
label supports the Company's vision to be a leading global provider
of alternatives to conventional synthetic agrochemicals. We are
excited to continue working with Wilbur-Ellis to bring the benefits
of Employ to a wide range of growers in California for the 2024
season."
Chris Wooley, Portfolio Manager - Specialty Actives, of
Wilbur-Ellis, said: "Employ has proven its value for
farmers across the U.S. Now, with this expanded California label
more growers will have access to Employ and the benefits it brings,
helping them to sustainably produce their crops."
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About Plant Health Care
Plant Health Care offers products to
improve the health, vigour and yield of major field crops such as
corn, soybeans, sugarcane, potatoes, rice, and wheat, as well as
specialty crops such as fruits and vegetables. We operate globally
through subsidiaries, distributors, and supply agreements with
major industry partners. Our innovative, patent-protected
biological products help growers to protect their crops from stress
and diseases, and to produce higher quality fruit and vegetables,
with a favourable environmental profile.
Find out more
at www.planthealthcare.com
About the Wilbur-Ellis Companies
Founded in 1921, the Wilbur-Ellis
companies are leading marketers, distributors and manufacturers of
agricultural products and animal nutrients. By developing strong
relationships, making strategic market investments, and
capitalizing on new opportunities, the Wilbur-Ellis companies have
continued to grow the business with sales of over $3.5
billion. For more information, please visit
www.wilburellisagribusiness.com.
Wilbur-Ellis Ag, with annual sales revenue of $2.5 billion, has
over 150 retail locations throughout the U.S.
©2024 WILBUR-ELLIS
Company LLC. WILBUR-ELLIS logo and The Power of We are registered
trademarks of Wilbur-Ellis Company LLC.
For
further information, please contact:
Plant Health Care plc Jeff
Tweedy, CEO
|
Tel: +1 919 926 1600
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited - Nomad &
Broker Neil
McDonald / Pete Lynch
|
Tel: +44 (0) 131 220 9771
|
For
further information about Wilbur-Ellis, please
contact: Michele O'Rourke, Sr.
Director, D&I and Communications.
MORourke@wilburellis.com