PHC, Arysta LifeScience sign license agreement

Plant Health Care (PHC) and Arysta LifeScience Corporation are pleased to announce that they have signed a Product Development and License Agreement for use of Plant Health Care’s proprietary Harpin alpha beta technology. Commercial terms were not disclosed.

Arysta LifeScience will develop and commercialize Harpin alpha beta in several crops and markets in combination with a number of Arysta LifeScience-brand foliar products. Sales of the first combination product are anticipated in the United States following registration in time for the 2014 use season.

Research demonstrates that use of Harpin in combination with triazoles can make a significant contribution to the management of resistance to the strobilurin family of chemistry. The international Crop Protection Chemical Stewardship Organization’s Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) has identified strobilurin fungicides as being at “high risk” for the development of disease resistance.

Paul Schmidt, CEO of Plant Health Care, commented: “We are delighted to enter into this relationship with Arysta LifeScience, which promises a number of new products that will use Harpin alpha beta technology to offer improved plant health benefits and superior disease control. This relationship marks a significant step forward for Plant Health Care and for United States farmers who will benefit from improved yields.”

Wayne Hewett, President and CEO of Arysta LifeScience, commented: “Arysta LifeScience is excited to access the Harpin alpha beta technology for use in combination with Arysta LifeScience’s value-added product portfolio. The technology has been validated in the United States corn and soybean market, and Arysta LifeScience is focused on launching new products in the United States market in 2014 as well as developing the concept in a number of crops and countries.”