April 28, 2016
Verde introduces "all natural product" for crop protection
Verde Potash has announced Alpha, the company''s new product for crop protection.
Verde developed a proprietary technology to produce Alpha from its potassium silicate mineral deposit.
Alpha is applied directly on crop leaves to provide plant available silicon, an element that has been proven to induce crops'' resistance and increase its protection against pests and diseases. The product''s development is a strategic addition to the company''s expanding portfolio of products and solutions that foster sustainable, more profitable and productive agriculture.
Plant available silicon has proven beneficial effects on crop protection. Alpha, a source of such, provides the following benefits helps suppress plant diseases caused by bacteria and fungi; improves plants'' resistance to pests by providing support in creating a physical defence barrier; strengthens plants'' cell walls by producing a strong layer on the outer cell wall; increases plants'' tolerance to environmental stresses (e.g. temperature extremes) and chemical stresses (e.g. salt and nutrient imbalances); enhances plants'' resistance to drought by reducing water loss; and directly stimulates plant growth and yield through more upright growth and plant rigidity.
Alpha''s market potential in Brazil is a direct reflection of the market for crop protection.
In 2014, the global crop protection market was worth US$54.8B and is expected to reach US$77.5B by 2020, of which Brazil represents 22.3%, approximately US$12.2 billion. The majority of such expenditure is attributable to chemical products. Verde''s Alpha is a reinforcement that can work alongside other chemical products to confront the challenges of fighting stronger pests and diseases.
Verde is conducting 18 field trials with some of the world''s largest agriculture corporations, three field trials with leading independent research companies and an overall evaluation being carried out by one of Brazil''s leading agronomy universities.
Alpha is being tested on coffee, rice, corn, soybeans, cotton and potato, among others.
While Verde''s TK47™ and Super Greensand™ are used in soil application, Alpha is applied as foliar feed (i.e. technique of feeding plants directly through their leaves).