Plater Bio's chitosan offers natural pest and disease control for organic growers

Following a year of successful trials Plater Bio is now manufacturing a natural ingredient that they believe could revolutionise pest and disease control in agriculture and horticulture. The product is called chitosan and is extracted from specially cultured fungi.

Chitosan is suitable for organic usage, allowing organic farmers access to a product to control diseases instead of the use of synthetic pesticides. Unlike the vast majority of chitosan, imported from Asia and made from seafood waste (prawn heads and crab shells), Plater Bio’s chitosan is produced from fungi, and is therefore suitable when vegetarian ingredients are required.

Prior to this product becoming available, organic farmers had few tools to protect against disease, relying on resilient varieties and cultural practices. Since 2014, EU ‘basic substance’ regulations have allowed for the use of chitosan, to activate the plants own defences against disease.

Until now, the cost and supply of chitosan has made it not a viable option. Now, not only is it an option for organic farmers, but also conventional farmers, who are seeing the number of active pesticides dwindling as conventional synthetic products are being withdrawn.

Dr Russell Sharp, Plater Bio Technical Director stated “At Plater Bio we are very excited about the benefits this revolutionary product can offer to farmers and the brewing industry.”

For more information:
Karen Potter
Mob: +44 07967 116781
karenpotter@platerchemicals.co.uk
www.platergroup.co.uk