Acadian Plant Health tells New AG International about the company’s research and the opening of a new research centre.
Please give a little background on Acadian Plant Health™ and the history of the company and how is this company shifting moving forward?
Acadian Plant Health™ is a division of Acadian Seaplants Limited and has been operating for the past 40 years. Acadian Plant Health™ is the world leader in biostimulant solutions, sustainably sourced, and scientifically proven to increase crop survivability and crop productivity. Acadian’s products are used in soil, seed treatments and foliar inputs on over 70 crops in more than 80 countries world-wide. We have recently invested in product development and market development resources. Our technology has functionality in both nutrient use efficiency and abiotic stress mitigation.
What are the challenges you see in agriculture today, and how can Acadian Plant Health™ be part of the solution to those challenges?
The biostimulant industry is in a moment of transition from a peripheral crop aid to a required agronomic input due to major agricultural challenges; ever increasing demand for sustainable food, reducing synthetic agronomic toolbox, harsh climatic conditions caused by climate change. These problems are shared by all major crop input industries and companies, and therefore requires new solutions that can be addressed by the biostimulant industry. Acadian Plant Health™ is at the forefront of this transition leading in investment to help close the gap with the crop protection industry. We now have a unique position as the worlds leading seaweed extract, with 40 years of proven science backed technology, now coupled to a world class product and market development backbone headed by leading ag professionals with a global/regional commercial chassis. Our intent it to catalyse this needed change.
Given the increase in fertilizer prices during 2021 are you seeing increased demand for your products?
What we know from our research is that by including our seaweed extract in a fertilizer program, the grower is able to increase the efficiency of applied fertilizer, which may lead to a reduction in the amount of fertilizer they need to use. This is good news for farmers looking at prices continuing to soar. While adding a seaweed extract is a cost, can be much lower than the cost to purchase fertilizer. (see chart)
Modes of action – Acadian Plant Health™ has done a lot of work on the modes of action for your Ascophyllum nodosum-based products. Very briefly, can you summarise how your products bring about the desired responses in plants?
We have invested heavily in R&D at Acadian Plant Health™ over the last 40 years and continue to use scientific tools to research the benefits of Aschophyllum nodosum. One tool in particular that we use is the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy – this allows us to see the unique chemical signature of our Acadian seaweed extract. In our research we can see the Aschophyllum nodosum produces a distinct signature (see chart). The peaks relate to compounds that provide support to the plant that it is applied to. You can see with other seaweed extracts this is not the case. With our unique extraction process we are able to see Mannitol, Alginic Acid and Fucoidans carbohydrates that help support the plant throughout its life cycle. The unique levels of these carbohydrates and other bioactives that are uncovered in our extraction process is what makes Acadian seaweed extracts unique. Acadian Aschophyllum nodosum extract supports plants with enhanced rooting, plant establishment, improved nutritional uptake, resistance to stress and improved yield and quality. Overall improving the survivability of the plant and its productivity. In addition to this, we are able to prove that our extracts are remarkably consistent from batch to batch, month over month, year over year. Something other biostimulant companies might not be able to prove or claim.
In order to counter extreme climate conditions, the ability to have a product that can improve survivability for a crop is paramount and is putting biostimulants such as this as a key driver in crop input production. Our research shows us that our extract technology interacts with the plant to switch on the plants natural defense to abiotic stress. With optimized formulations we can target the crop at vulnerable development stages and help the crop to remain productive through stress periods.
When it comes to developing optimised biostimulants products, as well as researching the mode of action, what is Acadian doing in this regard?
We recently announced the opening of our new Formulation Centre of Excellence in Malvern, UK. The new facility is Acadian Plant Health’s second global centre of excellence after Cornwallis, N.S. with a highly experienced team of research, formulation and development scientists. The world-leading facility will drive the creation of tailored new proprietary biostimulant formulations for the company’s partners and help them meet increasing global demand for sustainable agriculture solutions in the face of climate change challenges. We will continue to extend support to partners on compatibility and mixability with crop protection products, biologicals, micronutrients, and fertilizers.
There are a lot of supply chain issues these days. How is Acadian Plant Health™ handling this?
The supply chain issues have forced many companies around the world to analyze how they are bringing their materials to market and Acadian Plant Health™ is no different. In this case our staff have been watching this issue closely and have been very agile in adjusting our logistics to continue to supply our partners with this much needed resource. To date we have had no issues with ensuring our products are delivered in a timely manner. One key advantage we have is being fully backward integrated. We cover our needs from raw material harvesting, through processing and conversion to the final product delivered to the market. Our sea to land model provides Acadian with the ultimate flexibility needed to ensure our customers supply is secure and dependable.
And finally, what benefit has Acadian derived from its participation in the Biostimulants World Congress?
We are always happy to be a part of the Biostimulants World Congress and continue to sponsor this much needed event. This is a great opportunity for leading experts in science to present the latest research findings with respect to biostimulants. It also allows us to connect with key market players and discuss how we can all improve development and production of biostimulants globally. This is always an informative and valuable event and we very much appreciate being a part of it. ●
We have invested heavily in R&D at Acadian Plant Health™ over the last 40 years and continue to use scientific tools to research the benefits of Aschophyllum nodosum.
James Maude, Senior Vice President at Acadian Plant Health™, spoke to Luke Hutson Editor-in-Chief at New AG International, and gives his thoughts on the biostimulant market and how product optimisation is one of the drivers of current research.
Click here to see the interview
