Plant Health Care receives approval for Harpin fertiliser in Argentina

Plant Health Care PLC (AIM:PHC, OTCQB:PLHCF) announced Argentina has approved its Harpin αβ product for use as a seed treatment.

Senasa, the country’s food safety regulator, classified it as a biostimulant organic-chemical fertiliser. Corn and soybeans will be the first crops allowed to receive Harpin.

Argentina has 24mln hectares of corn and soybeans planted in the current season and growers spent more than US$100mln on soybean seed treatments in the previous one. 

The size of the biological market in soybeans is growing rapidly and was about US$75mln in 2021, the AIM-listed group noted.

The biological products developer is currently working with multiple organisations that are evaluating Harpin and will select in-country distribution partners in due course.

Harpin works by triggering the plant's own self-defence systems, in a manner similar to vaccinations in humans. The plant responds with improved crop quality, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress and increased yield.