Tomatoes plants grown with ADVASEAL® producing earlier, superior marketable yields
- Benefits of ADVASEAL® over current grower standard continue to be seen in first harvest
- Time to ripen, tomato count, size, grade and yield all superior using Imaflex's enhanced agricultural film
- Complete trial results available when independent report released after the growing season
MONTREAL, May 19, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Imaflex Inc. ("Imaflex" or the "Corporation") (TSXV: IFX), announces positive independent trial results from the first harvest comparing tomato production with ADVASEAL® to the current grower standard for fresh tomato production in Florida with fumigants.
"The first of three expected harvests by the independent grower is confirming the benefits ADVASEAL® can offer farmers worldwide," highlighted Mr. Joe Abbandonato, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imaflex. "Not only are we seeing fewer days to maturity with ADVASEAL®, but more and larger tomatoes of prime quality, compared to the grower reference." Collectively, this translates into earlier, higher marketable yields and in turn better profits for growers. Typically, supply and demand determine the general price level for tomatoes. Consequently, those growers first to market usually get the highest prices, while larger tomatoes also normally bring a premium.
Lower weed counts also confirmed ADVASEAL's® efficacy in controlling noxious, invasive weeds like nutsedge, often called the "world's worst" weed as it can drastically reduce yields in vegetable plants and many other crops. Only a few scattered nutsedge plants were counted on all ADVASEAL® treatments, versus frequent patchy nutsedge breakthroughs on the grower reference. "ADVASEAL's® use could be justified alone by the tangible financial and environmental advantages it offers growers," said Mr. Abbandonato. This includes more than a 95% decrease in fumigant usage, a significant reduction in the associated application time, no volatile pesticide drift and consequently likely no buffer zone restrictions compared to the current grower standard. "The advantages it appears to be bringing in heightened marketable yields is an additional notable benefit."
As a reminder, the tomato was chosen as a model crop for the trial, because it is one of the most widely grown vegetables in the world. Furthermore, if ADVASEAL® delivers high yields in tomato production, it can likely be used to produce high yields for many other fruits and vegetables that require pre-plant fumigation for soil disinfestation. Complete trial results, for the ADVASEAL® treatment and grower reference will be released once the independent report is available after the growing season is complete.
About ADVASEAL®
Today, agricultural films are used in the growing of fresh fruits and vegetables worldwide to cover soil treated with fumigants – volatile and toxic pesticides essential for reducing pests, weeds and fungi in the soil, thus supporting good growth of new crop seedlings.
The original EPA approved ADVASEAL® (ADVASEAL® HSM), contained only a herbicide for weed control. The new enhanced ADVASEAL® under development also includes fungicides and a nematicide to control soil borne pathogens, thus becoming a complete non-fumigant alternative for soil disinfestation. With ADVASEAL®, modern non-volatile crop protection products can be applied more effectively and safely than with fumigants. The crop protection products are incorporated into a coating, which is then applied to a mulch film. Once the coated film is applied to the ground the active ingredients are released into the soil under controlled conditions, preventing the over/under-dosing found with current soil disinfestation practices. This new technology dramatically reduces the amount of crop protection products required. The catalyst to trigger the release of the active ingredients is soil moisture. When the film is applied to the soil, they are efficiently and safely discharged into the ground, resulting in heightened productivity, lower costs and notable environmental benefits.
About Imaflex Inc.
Founded in 1994, Imaflex is focused on the development and manufacturing of innovative solutions for the flexible packaging space. Concurrently, the Corporation develops and manufactures films for the agriculture industry. The Corporation's products consist primarily of polyethylene (plastic) film and bags, including metalized plastic film, for the industrial, agricultural and consumer markets. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Imaflex has manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States. The Corporation's common stock is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol IFX. Additional information is available at www.imaflex.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Information
Certain information included in this press release constitutes "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the management of the Corporation, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. The Corporation cautions the reader that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of Imaflex to be materially different from the Corporation's estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and that the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are also based on certain factors and assumptions. For more details on these estimates, risks, assumptions and factors, see the Corporation's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the investor section of the Corporation's website at www.imaflex.com. The Corporation disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Imaflex Inc.
John Ripplinger, Vice-President Corporate Affairs, Tel: (514) 935-5710 ext. 157, Fax: (514) 935-0264, [email protected]
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