REG - Plant Health Care - Expanded New California Label for Employ®

Plant Health CareAnnouncement

04/06/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 9197Q  Plant Health Care PLC  04 June 2024

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."

 

# # #

 

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 (http://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
(https://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       Tel: +44 (0) 131 220 9771
 Neil McDonald / Pete Lynch

 

For further information about Wilbur-Ellis, please contact: Michele O'Rourke,
Sr. Director, D&I and Communications. MORourke@wilburellis.com

 

 

 

 

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