Plant Health Care cooperated with Syngenta to develop Harpin-based herbicide spray

Date:07-28-2010

Plant Health Care has signed a non-exclusive agreement with Syngenta’s (NYSE:SYT, ZUR:SYNN) Crop Protection subsidiary to develop and market Plant Health Cares Harpin protein as a foliar spray in combination with Syngentas herbicide products - containing glyphosate.

"This is Plant Health Cares second landmark agreement for our Harpin technology and is a further step in the commercialisation of our technology portfolio," Plant Health Care chief executive John Brady commented.

The company said that the deal further validates the potential of its Harpin technologies in another important application designed to deliver yield increases and plant health benefits. According to Plant Health Care, the combined treatment will be suitable for all crops that are tolerant to glyphosate, which is applied on more than 200m acres worldwide per year.

"Syngenta is an excellent partner and a major industry player, with whom we will be working closely on the next stages of the Harpin/glyphosate formulation development ," Brady added. 
 
The company highlighted that Syngenta Is the worlds largest crop protection company and a major provider of technologies used to control weeds, pests and disease in crops which include corn (maize), soybeans, canola and cotton.
 
After working with various Harpin formulations, Syngenta will now test multiple formulations of Harpin and glyphosate with the intention of offering new combined products as crop treatment options.

Harpin is a specific protein that “activates a plants innate ability to protect itself and enhance growth and yield”. According to Plant Health Care, Harpin technology offers yield improvement, the suppression of pests like nematodes and protection against damaging diseases, as well as additive plant health benefits.

In trials, Harpin has been shown to significantly increase yields on a variety of crops when combined with other active ingredients including glyphosate and fungicides.

Plant Health Care has a long-term development and commercialisation deal with Monsanto (NYSE:MON), for a Harpin-based seed treatment. The deal was initially agreed in December 2008. Monsanto has licensed the exclusive rights to commercialise harpin seed treatment technology in corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and selected vegetables.

Under the terms of the deal, Plant Health Care receives milestone payments and ongoing royalties based on the total volume of harpin seed treatment.

Plant Health Care’s strategy is to develop and prove naturally derived and IP-protected products which promote plant growth, yield and health, and exploit them commercially by partnering with the largest seed and agrichemical companies.