PHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

26 Sep 2006 07:02

Plant Health Care PLC26 September 2006 Embargoed until 7am 26 September 2006 Plant Health Care plc ("PHC" or "the Group") Myconate - 2006 Trial Results continue to impress around the world Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products forplants and soil, is pleased to report the early success of its Myconate testprogramme in 2006. Building upon the impressive results from prior years, theresults of this year's trials to date further validate the effectiveness ofMyconate in increasing yields of many different crops all over the world. PHC's novel Myconate technology helps crops to develop larger root mass bytriggering the colonisation of beneficial micro-organisms called mycorrhizalfungi. With more mycorrhizal fungi at work, each plant can draw more nutrientsand moisture out of the soil. More nutrients make for healthier plants, andsignificantly greater overall yields. The Board believes Myconate could be thekey to changing the face of farming. The safety and ease of application ofMyconate means that management practices need not be over-hauled. The procedureis a straightforward blending process, either tank mixing the Myconate with thefertilizer during planting, or applying the Myconate to the seed beforeplanting. During 2006, Myconate tests are being performed in numerous countries in theAmericas and Europe, in different soil and climate conditions, with the testsconducted on many different crops and using a range of application methods. Theresults for four of the trials harvested so far this year are shown in thefollowing Table. The results from all of our corn and soybean trials will bereported later. CROP: LOCATION % YIELD INCREASE COMMENTS OVER CONTROL ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cotton Georgia, USA 6.9 -10.4% Lint yield, 2 rates used Cotton Coahuila, Mexico 28.6% Lint yield Sorghum Tamaulipas, Mexico 47.1% Grain yield Tomatoes Provence, France 13.3% (saleable) Processing tomatoes Our trials continue to generate interest in Myconate among its target marketsprior to commercial rollout. PHC is currently in discussions with several majoragrichemical and seed companies concerning optimal arrangements for thecommercialisation of Myconate in the principal row crops. Other strategies arebeing explored for the smaller acreage crops. John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care, commented on the results, "The currenttrials on cotton and tomatoes have been exceptional and further tests on avariety of different crops are underway, leading us to believe that Myconatecould be more widely accepted than previously believed. "We are very excited about the progress being made on current round of Myconatetests. These successes have put us ahead of where we expected to be and it bodesvery well for the future. We expect to sign the first licensing agreement with amajor agri-chemical company in 2007, one year ahead of schedule." -ends- For further information please contact: Plant Health Care plcJohn Brady, CEO Tel: 001 603 525 3702 Tavistock Communications Tel: 020 7920 3150Jeremy CareyChristian Taylor-Wilkinson Notes to Editors: About Plant Health Care Plant Health Care plc ("PHC") is a leading provider of natural products forplants and soil. Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the UnitedStates, PHC currently has approximately 70 employees and has operations in theUS, Mexico, UK, Spain, and the Netherlands. The Company listed on the AIM marketof the London Stock Exchange in July 2004. Ticker symbol is PHC. PHC's products are aimed at the landscape, agriculture and land reclamationindustries and are both environmentally beneficial and on the whole more costeffective than synthetic chemical alternatives. Through the commercialisation ofthese products, PHC is capitalising on current long-term trends toward naturalsystems and biological products for plant care and soil and water management. Web Site: www.planthealthcare.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange