Is there a Future

P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Agricultural Ethanol in Europe: The FAO recently said that policies encouraging biofuel production and use in Europe & the USA were likely to maintain pressure on food prices but have little impact on weaning car users away from oil. The FAO report however uses far less dramatic language than anti-biofuel campaigners and does not quantify biofuels contribution to commodity price spikes which were also due to poor harvests and demand for a richer diet in places like China and Brazil. Moreover, with the exception of sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil, biofuel production only thrives when subsidized. Surprisingly enough, the biofuel industry has not often loudly voiced its arguments in this debate. That was one more reason for New Ag International to invite one of the most important players in this industry to list his arguments in front of an audience who is keen to seize opportunities to sell inputs and machinery to this industry but at the same time is one of the main advocates of the need to keep good land for producing food and fibre. In his highly attended high quality lecture that opened the conference, Bernard Chaud, Director of Biofuel projects with Tereos, one of the top five bioethanol companies in the world, tried to reconcile the various views on this “hot” topic! 26 Is there a Future? BIOETHANOL IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Bioethanol is the most produced biofuel product worldwide with over 63'000 Ml in 2008. This figure is mainly due to the United States and Brazil, each with about 45% of the total. In the United States, bioethanol production comes mostly from corn. According to Unica (União da Agroindústria Canavieira), in Brazil it is mainly obtained mainly from sugarcane. More recently, Asia (especially China, India and Thailand) has also embarked on large scale fuel-ethanol production and represents one of the largest production potential in the coming years. In 2007, the production of bioethanol in China amounted to 1'820 Ml, thereby placing the country at rank 3 worldwide, ahead of the EU. If the EU is today the fourth producer of fuelbioethanol in the world behind the United States, Brazil and China, its production is however much lower than the first two and it represents less than 5% of the world total. These statistics include the production of fuel-ethanol purchased and put up for sale on the European market by the European Commission within the frame of the Community wine market regulation. Under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission is indeed bound to purchase and store vineyard overproduction. She then takes the decision to convert a portion of this wine alcohol into ethanol and resells it on the fuel market. For 2020, Chaud foresees a decreasing Petrol consumption (from 120 Mt down to abt 80 Mt) versus an increasing EU target for biofuels (ethanol rate going up to close to 10% of energy content). Combination of these 2 hypothesis results in a theoretic 2020 market of 17 millions m3 ethanol in the EU. Already announced projects cover 80% of 2020 potential for EU production (Mm³) In reality, EU production will probably be less than that: Supposing 70% of the theoretic level, Chaud concludes that ethanol development in Europe is 2 or 3 years late on current targets and that imports will take a share of the market. By 2020, Germany and the UK could rank 1st for ethanol consumption in Europe. For the coming years however, french targets will be amongst the highest in Europe but Chaud underlines that such ambitious targets can only be achieved with the efficient combination of two different tools: A dissuasive penalty on fuel retailers (Retailers who cannot demonstrate that the yearly average biofuel content of their sales achieves the target, must pay a dissuasive tax) and part exemption on « internal consumption tax » for limited volumes to partly compensate the impact of higher costs on consumer prices. NEW AG INTERNATIONAL Bernard Chaud B ioethanol is actually ethyl alcohol (or also referred to as ethanol), identical to drinking alcohol by its composition. There are mainly two ways of producing ethanol, namely by synthesis of hydrocarbons and from biomass. Only the second approach deserves the terminology "bioethanol". First generation bioethanol is produced by distillation from crops such as wheat, corn, sugar cane and sugar beet. Cellulosic ethanol (a second generation biofuel) can be produced from a wider range of feedstocks, including agricultural residues, woody raw materials or energy crops that do not compete directly with food crops for land use. This requires a more complex production process (cellulose hydrolysis), which is currently at the demonstration stage. However, significant investment in R&D& in Europe and the United States will lead to production of cellulosic ethanol on the commercial scale within the next decade. Courtesy of M. Loison P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Europe’s ethanol production (Mm³) increases, but its share in the World remains small (5%) 1 200 000 Year 2007: France ranks first for ethanol production in Europe Fuel ethanol 2007 production (m3) 1 000 000 800 000 600 000 400 000 200 000 0 Fr an c Sp e er ai n m an Po y l S w a nd ed en I Hu tal y N n Cz e th ga ec er r y h l an Re d pu s S l bli ov c ak ia U I re K la nd Fi nl a G nd re ec La e L i t vi th a ua De n i nm a a Au rk s Be tria lg i E s um to n Cy ia S pr Lu lov us xe en m ia bo ur M g P o alta rtu ga l 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 EU USA Brésil Rest of World 63 Mm 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 4 11 Starch and Sugar beet are the main raw material for alcohol production in Europe (Mt) 3,50 3,00 2,50 2,00 1,50 1,00 0,50 0,00 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 Starch Sugar Beet Raw Miscelaneous France ranks 1st for agricultural raw material availability: 18 times more that what is needed for the 2020 target 20,0 18,0 16,0 14,0 12,0 10,0 8,0 6,0 4,0 2,0 0,0 3,1 Mtons G Raw material availability against need for fuel ethanol 5 WORLD CRISIS: ANY LESSON TO LEARN FROM IT? This is where Chaud pushes his arguments in a forceful manner. Says he: “Markets currently turn to be dramatically different from what was said before last summer: Prices for wheat were said to be high for ever, that was wrong. A sudden drop wiped out last year rise in prices. Production of wheat was said to be deficient and this was also wrong: This year’s crop proved to be the highest ever!” Everybody will agree with Chaud that both high and low prices are dangerous for human kind and this will remain forever: Low prices are dangerous for farmers who may suffer from bankruptcy in case of surpluses, while high NEW AG INTERNATIONAL prices are dangerous for consumers who may suffer through excessive cost of life. According to Chaud, Long term Ethanol policy may provide part of the answer. It will help reducing the risk of surpluses, therefore providing a visibility to farmers who will be encouraged to increase productivity. And it will promote additional production on top of food and fibre needs, thus reducing the risk of high prices by deterring speculation. Having exposed this challenging view, Chaud concludes that 10% target for ethanol into petrol in 2020 is a fair and achievable target for EU. He adds that the ethanol industry is a long term business that needs stability and Fr a Li nc th e ua n Po ia l B and ul ga Sl ria ov a H k ia un D g ar en y m ar k Sp ai La n R t vi om a a B nia el g G iu m er m C an ze ch Au y R str e p ia ub l Es ic to ni a It a F i ly nl a Sw nd ed en 16 The more wheat is consumed, the cheapest (Average reduction of 10 ç a bushel per year) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1910-1970 Trend Wheat price $/bu ( 2007$) 22 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1912 1921 1930 1939 1948 1957 1966 1975 1984 1993 2002 2011 2020 19 12 19 19 19 26 19 33 19 40 19 47 19 54 19 61 19 68 19 75 19 82 19 89 19 96 20 03 The value of Oil against Wheat is consistently increasing since 1st Oil schock in the 70’ Bushels of wheat for one barel of oil 2029 2038 24 consistency in public policies: is that the reason why Brazil and the USA are world leaders? ■ 27 2047 Sl U ov K en Ire ia la Po nd rt ug N Gr a l et ee he c rla e nd C s yp ru s P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S REACH still in the move: REACH stands for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisations of Chemicals. It is the new Regulation that entered into force on 1st June 2007 in the EU. It streamlines and improves the former legislative framework on chemicals of the European Union. The main aims of REACH are to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, the promotion of alternative test methods, the free circulation of substances on the internal market and enhancing competitiveness and innovation. Compliance with REACH is mandatory for continued sales of chemicals and products in the European Union. Chemicals manufactured in or imported into the EU in excess of one tonne per annum must be registered. Failure to register means that the substance is not allowed to be manufactured or imported. To cut a long story short, no registration means no business. In Barcelona, the conference room was therefore crowded to hear about the latest developments in the legislation from Vincent Navez, a consultant from the Brussels based REACH Centrum! 26 Emerging issues the assessment of the chemical substances will not result in unnecessary testing, especially on animals. Where appropriate, authorities may also select substances for a broader substance evaluation to further investigate substances of concern. REACH also foresees an authorisation system aiming to ensure that substances of very high concern are properly controlled, and progressively replaced by suitable alternative substances or technologies where these are economically and technically viable. Where this is not possible, the use of substances may only be authorised where there is an overall benefit for society of using the substance. In addition, EU authorities may impose restrictions on the manufacture, use or placing on the market of substances causing an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. The Member States authorities are responsible for enforcing REACH through inspections as well as penalties in case of non-compliance. mentation began several years before the legislation was adopted. This included the setting up of the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki but also the preparation of IT tools, guidance documents and the creation of a network of helpdesks that will support industry and authorities to fulfill their tasks under REACH. After entry into force of REACH on 1 June 2007, many of those tasks, including the provision of information on REACH to companies and the general public have been transferred to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Nevertheless, the European Commission keeps an important role in updating and completing the REACH legislation (including an update concerning the classification and labelling inventory which will be introduced through GHS ) and in taking decisions in a number of REACH processes, in particular authorisation and restrictions. The Commission is currently reviewing a number of REACH Annexes. In parallel, it is preparing implementing legislation that is necessary to put the provisions of REACH into effect, such as e.g. a Regulation on fees, which sets fees to be paid by industry for e.g. registration and applications for authorisation. The Commission is also involved in giving advice on key issues related to the interpretation of REACH. This concerns giving advice NEW AG INTERNATIONAL Vincent Navez R EACH makes industry responsible for assessing and managing the risks posed by chemicals and providing appropriate safety information to their users. In parallel, the European Union can take additional measures on highly dangerous substances, where there is a need for complementing action at EU level. HOW WILL REACH WORK? All manufacturers and importers of chemicals must identify and manage risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market. For substances produced or imported in quantities of 1 tonne or more per year per company, manufacturers and importers need to demonstrate that they have appropriately done so by means of a registration dossier, which must be submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) .The Agency may then check that the registration dossier complies with the Regulation and must evaluate testing proposals to ensure that Courtesy of M. Loison THE KEY ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION Prior to the entry into force, the European Commission was responsible for the preparing of the legislation and supporting the European Parliament and the Council during the decision making process. At the same time, preparatory work for REACH imple- P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S on draft guidance documents and on helpdesk questions to ECHA and the REACH helpdesk network A NUMBER OF EXPECTED BENEFITS While the amount of work needed for a company to comply with REACH can be very huge, there are also a number of expected benefits for all stakeholders. REACH introduces a new era of chemicals policy in Europe. It will increase our knowledge of the hazardous properties of chemicals. It is also expected to enhance the communication and implementation of conditions of safe use in supply chains and the substitution of dangerous substances by less dangerous ones. Through different types of measures, REACH is finally expected to cause a decrease in risks to human health and the environment associated with the use of chemicals. SOME EMERGING ISSUES Such a complex legislation as REACH cannot just go 100% smoothly! In his Barcelona paper, Navez listed a number of concerns and illustrated them with a few self-speaking examples. There are seven main concerns: (1) ECHA capacities and workload; (2) strong NGO pressure (fast and efficient procedure, mandatory substitution of all SVHCs, SIN list…) to show that REACH is delivering; (3)Difficult, unresolved issue of interpretation, e.g., article or preparation; (4) Guidance unclear, e.g., Substances in Articles; (5) Difficult protection of Commercial Business information; (6) Difficult balance between REACH requirements of data sharing and competition law compliance; (7) Is enforcement by National Competent Authorities really aligned? (+ level playing field and size of penalties). One of the most unexpected problems that companies may have to face is that REACH assigns responsibilities to Legal Entities (LEs) and Pre-registration and registration per Legal Entity and REACH-requirements are long-term (at minimum until 2018). However, in day-to-day business, legal structure of companies is subject of change permanently, also with mergers, de-mergers and acquisitions! Any smart way out, Mr Navez? If so, please email all 650 participants to the Barcelona conference because it is most likely that while you were speaking, such kind of story happened in the Exhibition area next to the conference room! ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL 27 P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S New Developments in the European Union chelates legislation and analytical methodologies I Courtesy of M. Loison Prof. Juan J. Lucena That is what Prof. Juan J. Lucena, from the University of Madrid (UAM) has been monitoring for years. In Barcelona, the New Ag conference room was crowded to discover the details of what had been officially agreed at EU level just a few days before. Lucena thinks that the requirements for the commercial iron chelates are now adequate and clear for companies, governments and also for farmers. ron and other micronutrient chelates are a very special type of fertilizers consisting in an organic molecule (the chelating agent) and a metal surrounded by the chelating agent. These molecules permit the metals to be soluble in soil conditions where the metals are present in low soluble solid forms, unavailable to the plants. In fact most of the Mediterranean Agriculture is on high pH calcareous soils, where metal deficiencies occur. The organic molecule is industrially synthesized. In order to keep simplicity in the synthesis pathway chelates are sometime produced with a certain degree of impurities. Micronutrient chelates regulation has repeatedly changed in the last years. In the current Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to fertilizers, iron chelates specifications and chelating agents permitted varied respect those presented in the previous directive. However already in 2005 an amendment to the regulation permitted the inclusion of a new chelating agent (EDDHSA), and in 2007 more modifications has been introduced to clarify requirements for Fe chelates and the list of chelating agents. This year new changes have been proposed mainly with the aim to regulate other micronutrient chelates in the same way than the Fe chelates. Lucena thinks that the new modifications are necessary but he demonstrated that it makes no sense to require the same amount of chelated metal in the low (e.g. ZnEDTA) and high (e.g. Fe-EDDHSA) molecular weight chelates (see table 1). In fact this is the unique type of fertilizers that has suffered so many changes in the legislation. WHY CHANGING AGAIN THE LEGISLATION? Why these modifications? Several factors have made that chelates have been the focus of companies and EC representatives. First, of course, the high cost of the chelates that made them an interesting product for companies. But, secondly, investigations have produced three important things. First of all, they have produced reliable methods for the quantification of commercial chelates. Old methods used for the control of chelates were unspecific methods and only the soluble and chelated fraction of the element, but not of the chelate itself, could be determined. Then the real composition of the chelates could not be determined. Now, CEN is producing new Standards that can quantify the amount of the elements chelated by each one of the chelating agents. When methods for EDTA, DTPA, HEDTA, o,oEDDHA and o,oEDDHMA were applied to iron chelates the information obtained leaded to the modifications on the 2003/2003 Regulation, that greatly helped to improve the quality of the existing commercial products, and to reflect in the label the real composition of the chelates. Methods for the new chelating agents o,pEDDHA and EDDHSA have been also recently delivered by CEN, and now a method for the proposed new chelating agent IDHA is been investigated. Investigations have also produced new chelating agents. Before 2003/2003 Table 1: Comparison of the composition of different chelates containing 5% of the chelated element Metal Chelating agent Accompanying ions Synthesis by-products & other unknown Na2Zn EDTA 5% 22% 4% 69% Na2Fe EDTA Cl 5% 26% 7% 62% Na4Fe EDDHA Cl3 5% 32% 18 % 45% K3Fe EDDHSA SO4 5% 60% 19% 16% 26 NEW AG INTERNATIONAL P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Regulation only EDTA, DTPA, HEDTA and the Fe specific EDDHA, EDDHMA and EDDCHA were allowed by the EC directive, but commercial products containing EDDHA (and EDDHMA) may contain several iso- meric forms. Then both the ortho-ortho (more stable) and ortho-para (fast action) isomers has been recognized as chelating agents. Besides other chelating agents without real complexing activity were wrongly introduced in the regulation, and deleted in the 2007 amendment. EDDHSA (monomer and polycondensated products) were introduced in the 2005 amendment. IDHA is a new chelating agent proposed to substitute EDTA since it has several similar- Table 2 : Main changes (in red) proposed for the type designation “metal (M: Co, Cu, Mn and Zn) chelates” to be included in Regulation 2003/2003 Data on method of production and essential ingredients Minimum content of nutrients (% by weight) Data on the expression of nutrients Other requirements 5 % water-soluble M, and at least 80% of the water-soluble M is chelated by chelating agent(s) mentioned in the list of Annex I section E.3.1. Other data on the type of designation Nutrient content to be declared Forms and solubility of the nutrients Other criteria - water soluble M - Optional: Total M chelated by chelating agent(s) mentioned in the list of Annex I section E.3.1. - M chelated by each chelating agent that is declared in the type-designation Water-soluble product obtained by combining M chemically with chelating agent(s) mentioned in the list of Annex I section E.3.1 Name of the chelating agents mentioned in the list of Annex I section E.3.1 that chelates at least 1% watersoluble M and that can be identified and quantified by a European Standard Table 3: Example of the description of three Zn chelates according to the new proposed modification of EC2003/2003. Today, only the first one is permitted by EC 2003/2003 Product ZnEDTA X Z1 Z2 Z3 Type designation and label 6 5.4 Zn chelated by EDTA 6% water soluble Zn 5,5% Zn chelated by EDTA 2,5 1 Comment Chelated fraction is 90% >80%, so it complies with the requirements, but it should not be included in the label ZnEDTA + ZnDTPA + ZnHEEDTA 8 3 Zn chelated by EDTA, DTPA and HEEDTA Chelated fraction is 81% >80%, so it complies 8% water soluble Zn with the requirements, but it should 3% Zn chelated by EDTA not be included in the label 2.5% Zn chelated by DTPA 1% Zn chelated by HEEDTA (opt) 6.5% total Zn chelated Chelated fraction is 81% >80%, so it complies with the requirements, but it should not be included in the label ZnEDTA + ZnDTPA + ZnHEEDTA 8 5 0.8 0.7 Zn chelated by EDTA 8% water soluble Zn 5% Zn chelated by EDTA (opt) 6.5% total Zn chelated X: Soluble element (method in EC 2003/2003) Z2: metal that can be chelated by DTPA (EN13368-1) Z1: metal that can be chelated by EDTA (EN13368-1) Z3: metal that can be chelated by HEDTA (EN13368-1) ities with it, but with lower stability, faster action and with the advantage that it is biodegradable. Last but not least, new fertilization techniques need new chelates. Hydroponic systems, fertigation in real soil or commercial substrates, or foliar applications are current fertilization techniques that need different chelates. While only highly stable chelates can be used in traditional fertilizer applications, the new techniques may use less stable chelates, since the reactivity with the soil is going to be reduced. Even complexes of lower stability than the chelates may be used. Spanish regulation already permits the use of several complexing agents to complex metals when used in fertigation or foliar applications. Recently the EU has been requested to allow Lignosulfonates as the first complexing agent permitted in Europe. Then, while new additions of chelating agents are expected in the future, Lucena thinks that the requirements for the commercial chelates are now adequate and clear for companies, governments and also for farmers. ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL 27 P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S PS109: An innovative vegetal substrate I Dr Vanina Ziosi Courtesy of M. Loison Abiotic stresses such as drought, high and low temperatures cause cellular dehydration, protein denaturation and loss of structural and functional integrity of biological membranes. As a result, photosynthesis and respiration, as well as other metabolic functions which are necessary for plant growth, are inhibited. In her Barcelona paper, Dr Vanina Ziosi from Biolchim Italy presented the effects of PS109, an innovative vegetal substrate, on the yield of crops under stress conditions and on the shelf-life of fruit. PS109 belongs to the rapidly growing category of new products having biostimulating effects on crops and developed by the most innovative manufacturers of specialty plant nutrition products in Europe and beyond. Several of these were introduced on the occasion of the New Ag International conference in Barcelona. 26 mproving plant tolerance to unfavorable environmental conditions is a major goal today. Plants have evolved several mechanisms for withstanding the negative effects of abiotic stresses. A key adaptive response is the accumulation of organic compounds collectively known as compatible osmolytes. These molecules, which include sugars, sugar alcohols, quaternary ammonium compounds, amino acids and their derivatives, are involved in osmoregulation and in stabilization of proteins and cell membranes. Biolchim-PS109 is an innovative product for foliar application based on different vegetal substrates containing several types of compatible solutes, sugar alcohols, and isoprenoids. Due to its peculiar chemical composition, the product improves plant defenses against abiotic stress at different levels. At whole plant level, its acts as a film-forming agent which curtails transpiration without affecting gas exchanges. At cellular level, Biolchim-PS109 contributes to regulate osmolarity, it stabilizes membranes at very low hydration, and maintains proteins in the folded state in stress conditions that would normally promote their denaturation by acting as a chemical chaperone. PRE-HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST EFFECTS Experimental trials carried out in Southern Italy and presented by Ziosi show that foliar applications improve yield of crops in open field conditions. In processing tomato, Biochim-PS109 treatment before fruit setting of the fourth and the fifth truss (which occurred in July, when high temperatures are often associated with reduced water availability) increased the number of fruits per plant. Treatments carried out during the following fruit growth stages improved the final fruit size, thus showing that the product allows plants to maintain metabolic activities needed to sustain growth and reproductive processes in adverse environmental conditions. Preliminary results of other experiments indicate that Biolchim-PS109 exerts protective effects also against frost damages: in fact, in eggplants grown in a glasshouse, the degree of leaf rolling induced by low temperatures was reduced in treated plants as compared to control plots. According to Ziosi, Biolchim-PS109 field treatments also positively influence fruit post-harvest behavior, mainly by reducing water loss in harvested fruit. In cherry tomato, product application 4 days before harvest reduced weight loss and maintained quality of detached fruit at 20°C, thus significantly extending their shelf-life. Similar results were recorded in zucchini squash and cucumber. On the basis of the overall results reported in Barcelona, Ziosi concludes that Biolchim-PS109 can be regarded as a very promising input for increasing yield of crops in environmental stress conditions as well as for improving post-harvest quality and shelf-life of fruit and vegetables. THE BASIS FOR A FULLY CUSTOMIZED PRODUCT RANGE Another feature of the product, potentially extremely interesting from a commercial standpoint, is that being a mixture of vegetal substrates with different biological activity, Biolchim-PS109 is highly flexible: in fact, by varying the relative quantities of its components, specific products for different purposes (e.g. frost damages, drought tolerance, extended shelf-life) are being developed. Further investigations concerning the effects of single or multiple Biolchim-PS109 treatments on different species and in different environments are still needed to get better knowledge about the potential use of this innovative vegetal substrate in agriculture. ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Inicium®: A Specific Effect on the Root System T Courtesy of M. Loison Anna Botta It is now well documented that any stress occurring at plant transplant can jeopardize the future production. Hence the efforts of manufacturers to design new products that specifically address this issue. “Inicium is a natural biostimulant with a specific effect on the root system.» said Anna Botta, from the R&D Department of the Plant Physiology Division at Bioiberica in Spain during her lecture in Barcelona. This product helps root development, which translates into higher yields in field trials on fruits and vegetables.” ransplanting is one of the most critical stages in plant life cycle. Seedlings are very sensitive. If any stress occurs, root development at the initial phases and settlement into a new environment can jeopardize future crop production and commercial quality. The objectives of Bioiberica’s paper on Inicium® were to explain action mechanism on plant after transplant. Trials helped to determine the expression of defence proteins in tomato plants under controlled conditions. The second part of trials was to verify Inicium® efficacy in the field, on different agricultural crops. light the action mechanism. The application of Inicium® after transplanting induces the expression of defence proteins, which play a key role in plant pathogen control and plant development processes. In the critical days after transplanting, induction of these proteins helps in the rapid settlement of the crop and increases protection of the plant against any kind of stress.» AND A GOOD EFFICACY AT FIELD LEVEL To verify product’s efficacy in the field, untreated lettuce and lettuce treated with Inicium® were compared. Plant height and diameter were better in the treated plots, with less head presence. Another trial on strawberries shows that the number of flowers and the number of fruits per thousand plants 2 months after transplant were higher with Inicium®, for cultivars Ventana and Camarosa. INDUCING THE EXPRESSION OF DEFENCE PROTEINS Transplant and treatment of plants was conducted by the Centre for Innovation and Development in Plant Health (CIDSAV)- University of Girona. Young tomato plants were transplanted with 0,5 ml and 1 ml of Inicium®. Genetic analysis was done after sample extractions on treated and untreated tomatoes after 24 hours. Molecular markers revealed a higher level of special proteins (glucanase and chitinase function) on tomatoes treated with Inicium®. According to Anna Botta: « To show Inicium® action mechanism on plants after transplant, either proteins PR-2 and PR-3 are good molecular markers to high- For fruit production, Inicium was also tested on the root system of different trees at planting. Results were very good in the first year of production in a trial on peach-tress : first harvest after planting in the treated plot was 60% higher than on the control. For the total peach production after several years, Inicium® treatment gave +23% average yield. In vineyards, the results were also good, with a bigger shoot length on Monasterl and Syrah (+40% to + 50%) when treated. Results from field tests on lettuce, strawberry plants, grapes and peach trees show that the application of Inicium® improves the performance of the plant after transplanting, bringing forward the harvest and increasing the yields. A natural product based on characterized peptides of low molecular weight, Inicium® will be developed in the next years by Bioiberia on many horticultural crops. ■ 26 NEW AG INTERNATIONAL P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S A new Natural Prototype Elicitor from Valagro Courtesy of M. Loison COPS: THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW COMPOUND Dr. Alberto Piaggesi E An elicitor is a natural molecule produced by the host or the pathogen that induces a response by the plants. Nonspecific elicitors can be exogenous and produced by the pathogen; they also may be endogenous and produced by the plant after infection. Another class, the specific elicitors, is produced by specific pathogens and active only towards some cultivars from the same species. “For more than 12 years, Valagro investigates on natural biostimulants that can be active as factors of better nutrition and plant protection,” said Alberto Piaggesi, Business Innovation Director, Valagro, Italy, in his Barcelona paper. Discovery of promising elicitors and their activity inside plants is now supported by genomic analysis. licitors, such as microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMP) or products of avirulence (avr) genes, can trigger plant defence mechanisms when recognized by host receptors. It has been shown that a deacetylated chitin derivative acts as a MAMP, by binding to a specific receptor, thus eliciting systemic immunity in some pathosystems. Valagro investigated a lot on deacetylated chitin derivative and its properties as elicitor. Elicitor action of this compound is showed by induction of active resistance mechanisms on the plant around the point of infection or in a distal part. The results of research and investigations have led Valagro to recently discover a new deacetylated chitin derivative compound (PS08CH) obtained from a specific chemical physical process starting by this category of compound. The process used permits to obtain a natural compound characterized by a stronger elicitor action inside the plant. Biochemical evidences of elicitor action of (PS08CH) are: synthesis and callus deposition behind cell walls; programmed cell death; stimulating phytoalexin production. Phytoalexines are antimicrobial compounds synthesized de novo by plants and pro- duced under biotic or abiotic stress. Genomic analysis showed the genic activation of plant self defence gene marker after (PS08CH) application on plant tissues. These results confirm the activation of self defence at genomic level and then the elicitor action of the compound. Evidences that (PS08CH) has shown through the genomic approach in the laboratories were also confirmed by field trials made with (PS08CH) prototype on different crops and in different places. A BROAD SPECTRUM PROTECTION Non-specific, also called aspecific elicitors, make induction of active resistance mechanisms around the point of infection (local) or in distal plant parts (systemic). They are induced by various compounds that stimulate complex pathways. They provide broad spectrum protection, which is an interesting point. Valagro S.p.A. B. I. Department, investigated thoroughly the metal polyanionic complex glucosamine polymer (COPS as a codename, same as PSO8CH)) and its properties as elicitor in field trials. The elicitor action of this compound is shown by induction of active resistance mechanisms on the plant around the point of infection or in a distal part. In grapevine field trials shown by Piaggesi, COPS application induces a higher concentration of 2 phytoalexines: flavonol and stilben. Flavonol is implicated in defence mechanism resistance; stilben is synthesized by an alternative pathway to the flavonoid path. In vegetable crops such as tomato, pepper and cucurbits, COPS application results in less mildew attacks; more fruits are produced with a better fruit quality and high sugar content. From a more scientific perspective, Valagro has also studied the pathogen response «programmed cell death» and «stimulating phytoalexine production» by specific gene markers. It shows that several genes identified by markers are responsible for induction. A geneship analysis is now currently used by Valagro research Dpt to identify the production of phytoalexines. Years of research by a number of private and public laboratories around the world have proved that good elicitor activity can be supported by genomic analysis. The elicitors selected by Valagro show good results in field trials on plants health , nutrition and quality. They are natural and environmentally friendly products, with strong safety and no residues. The launch in the market is expected in the near future. ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL 26 P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Thiosulfate Liquid Fertilizers AMMONIUM THIOSULPHATE: THE HIGH ANALYSIS LIQUID SULPHUR AND A NITRIFICATION INHIBITOR Courtesy of M. Loison A Leon Stites Thiosulfates have long been used in North America as a source of sulphur for the liquid fertilizer market. In Europe, some of them such as Ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) have been used but the use of other products such as e.g. KTS or Ca TS has been anecdotal so far. Hence the interest for the audience in Barcelona to learn a bit more about these products from Leon Stites, agronomist with Tessenderlo Kerley, the world leading producer of such specialities, based in Texas. mmonium thiosulfate (ATS is a clear liquid solution containing 12 % nitrogen and 26 % sulphur. ATS is generally applied with urea or urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and can be mixed with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and/or potassium chloride fertilizers. Thiosulfate oxidation in the soil is both abiotic and biotic. The first step is mostly abiotic with the rapid transformation of thiosulfate to tetrathionate. With such a rapid transformation only an abiotic reaction is most likely. Research by Voss showed that when 100 ppm of thiosulfate-sulfur was added to an acid soil, 1884% of it was converted to tetrathionate within 30 minutes. The second step is mostly biological with the conversion of tetrathionate to sulfate by various organisms, including many species of the genus thiobacillus. In the mid to late 80’s, research at North Dakota State University by Dr. Jay Goos indicated that ATS has an inhibitory effect on nitrification and urease activity. A 5% blend (v/v) of ATS with UAN solution inhibited nitrification by 51% in a 28 day laboratory incubation study. In another experiment, Goos reported levels of urease inhibition ranged from 1535% with a 1% (v/v) addition of ATS to UAN. Field trials on spring wheat with fall applied aqua ammonia amended with nitrapyrin or ATS, Goos reported increased wheat growth, N uptake, and grain yield. The unamended aqua ammonia had a nitrogen use efficiency of 24% (grain + straw) but where nitrapyrin and ATS was used the nitrogen use efficiency was 50 to 56%. Research at Kansas State University confirmed Goos’ research as a urease inhibitor. However, other researchers in the U.S. and abroad have had mixed results of ATS’s effect on urea hydrolysis with some indicating very little or no effect. Commercially, ATS is sold as a high analysis liquid sulfur product and its inhibitory effect on nitrification enhances its position in the market place. by Weir at the University of California found that a foliar application of 4.5 to 6.7 kg/ha of K2O as KTS during the early bloom stage of Acala cotton increased lint yields by 56 to 168 kg/hectare1. Crops that have responded favorably to foliar KTS include melon, soybean, citrus and potatoes. More research is needed on other crops such as wheat to determine timing and rate of application. CALCIUM THIOSULPHATE: A PROMISING PRODUCT Calcium thiosulfate (CaTs) is a clear liquid containing 6% calcium and 10% sulphur with a near neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Replicated trials on Rainier cherries in the Yakima Valley of Washington showed significantly increased weight per 100 fruit, 927 grams for UTC vs 1082 grams for CaTs, and increased Brix, 18 vs 21. The CaTs treatments were soil applied in a four foot band under the drip line of the trees. In California, Weir applied 20 l/ha of CaTs with 135kg/ha (2/3 rate) of nitrogen as UAN significantly increased yield over full rate of N, 200 kg/ha as UAN with and without the addition of sulfur. Studies by outside laboratories in the U.S. have indicated that CaTs has an effect on urease activity by reducing ammonia loss from urea by as much as 36%. Further research is needed in this area. ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL POTASSIUM THIOSULPHATE: HIGHLY CONCENTRATED LIQUID POTASSIUM Potassium thiosulphate (KTS) is a clear liquid containing 25% potassium and 17% sulfur with a pH that ranges from 7.4 to 8.0. Because of the high solubility, it has been quickly accepted by fluid fertilizer industry. Gordon at Kansas State University showed that the addition of 5.6 kg/ha of K2O as KTS in combination with 34 kg of N/ha as UAN and 34 kg/ha of P as 1034-0 in a starter fertilizer increased corn yields by 754 kg/ha over equivalent amount of N and P without potassium. Research 28 P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Slow Release Fertilisers: A Complementary Technology in Fertigated Crops? The implementation of fertigation systems in intensive agriculture translated into a real revolution in water and nutrient use efficiency. Fertigation is applied via a wide range of technologies, from simple mechanisms such as an injector and one tank, to complex software guided systems. Mineral nutrition in fertigated crops is mainly supplied with liquid and soluble salts fertilisers (with small amounts of nutrients applied by foliar applications), but other kind of products such as slow release fertilisers, can be an interesting complementary technology. The idea was convincingly developed in Barcelona by Dr Bert Jaeger, from Compo Gmbh in Germany ONE STRATEGY FOR HORTICULTURAL CROPS At planting, in horticultural crops, an important amount of water is normally applied to improve plant rooting in soil. This is a period of high nutrient losses (especially N) from the soil. The base fertilization with SRF helps to supply the amount of nutrients required by the plant at this specific stage with a minimum risk of salt damage to young roots and without risk of nutrient leaching. In short cycle crops, such as lettuces, it is possible to supply all the nutrients need of the production period with a SRF. For long cycle crops fertigation will supply the gap of nutrients required by the plant. Dr Bert Jaeger T here are two kinds of slow release fertilisers (SRF); products with low rate of solubility and slow degradation in the soil (isobutylene diurea, IBDU) and coated fertilisers, where mineral particles are coated with polymers. Slow Release Fertilisers (SRF) release nutrients depending on temperature and soil humidity. Slow release fertilisers can be a complementary way to implement a safe and balanced crop nutrition programme for a number of fertigated crops. Jaeger decribes three different application scenari: SRF as Base Dressing in Fruit and Vegetable growing, SRF as planting hole fertilizer and SRF as base supply in potted plants. The strategy is different for horticultural production, fruit crops and plant nurseries. A DIFFERENT ONE IN FRUIT CROPS The strategy in fruit crops is slightly different. Under Mediterranean conditions Root system starts its activity at the end of the winter period. Therefore, irrigation is not necessary due to both the accumulated soil humidity and sufficient rainfalls, which cover the small water amount requirements of the trees. In this case, a granular fertiliser or a SRF applied under drip irrigation is a good option to introduce the amount of nutrient required at this crop stage. However a granular SRF is by far a better option compared to conventional granular fertilisers. The main advantage is to avoid nutrient losses by leaching or denitrification. In addition it happens to be a good practice to ensure a minimum and permanent concentration of nutrients in the soil solution in case of technical problems or mistakes in the management of the fertigation systems. The third possible application is a mixed use of SRF + Fertigation in plant nurseries. SRF are commonly applied in nurseries via growing media with the addition of nutrients via drip fertigation or foliar fertilization. In this case, SRF play a double role: to supply the initial nutritional requirements to the plants with low risk of salt damage, and once the plants are out of the nursery, to supply nutrients for the plant to be maintained until it is distributed and planted at its definitive location. The three scenari developed by Jaeger are interesting. Jaeger also indicates that from a marketing and sales viewpoint the one that is developing the fastest is the planting hole fertilizer. ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL 26 Courtesy of M. Loison P R O D U C T S & T R E N D S Controlled-Release Fertilizers: Do they increase Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Vegetables? Dr Eran Barak The term “Fertilizer Use Efficiency” (FUE) refers to the ratio between the fertilization rates applied to the crop, and the nutrients actually consumed by the crop and used to produce yields. Sustainable farming systems should seek for the highest fertilizer use efficiency, in order to save on resources, protect the environment and maximize yields. In his Barcelona lecture, Dr Eran Barak,VP of Haifa Chemicals showed that the use of “expensive” Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF) on a number of agricultural crops not only can help achieve better agronomic results than a standard farmer’s practice but also contributes to money savings and environment protection. Courtesy of M. Loison C ontrolled release fertilizers (CRFs) are an excellent means to enhance FUE, says Barak. Single, pre-plant application of polymer-coated fertilizers with predetermined release longevity takes care of the crop’s requirements throughout the growth season, according to the Haifa branded Teaspoon Feeding™ approach of optimized plant nutrition. REDUCING FERTILIZER APPLICATION RATES FUE is achieved due to the good correlation between the plant nutrient demand curve, and the release pattern from the coated fertilizer granules. Thus, the nutrients are consumed by the crop as soon as they become available, so they are not prone to losses through leaching, volatilization or soil fixation. This highly efficient fertilizer use enables considerable reduction of fertilizer application rates – up to 50% as compared to conventional granular fertilizers or liquid fertilizers, depending on soil type and climate conditions. Another benefit is, of course, the prevention of environmental contamination. The efficiency of CRFs enables economic benefits that lie on reduced labor and reduced application rate, while achieving same or even better crop performances. By eliminating the need for extra-irrigation to leach salinity resulted from unused fertilizer and by increasing yields, CRFs also improve water use efficiency. PROVEN RESULTS IN THE FIELD Numerous trials and observations presented by Dr Barak in Barcelona have demonstrated the benefits of CRFs in increasing FUE in many crops and under a variety of growth conditions. Some examples developed by Barak: (1)In a melon trial in France, CRF treatment resulted in more fruits per plant, larger fruits and higher total yield, with considerably lower application rates; (2) In an onion trial in Mexico, CRF at 70% application rate as compared to conventional fertil- ization increased yield and improved size distribution; (3) In CRF trial on greenhouse-grown tomatoes a greenhouse tomato trial in Israel, fertilization at 65% of conventional application rates increased total yield, marketable yield and fruit size At 50% of conventional application rates, CRF resulted in similar yields as compared to the control; (4) In a sweet-potato trial in Australia, highest yields and income were obtained with CRF at 75% of conventional rates. The conclusion of Barak is that CRF products are the “brainy fertilizers”, where knowledge and High Technology are already inside the product, therefore easing the growers’ work and decreasing the chances of making mistakes in fertilizer dressings calculations. The future will tell whether the still somewhat difficult to solve equation between prices of CRF and their economic added value in a number of field crops plays in favour of a strong development of these sophisticated products in the market. A challenge indeed for all suppliers of coated fertilizers who are not sparing any effort to build a solid technical and agronomic basis to support their marketing efforts to increase product use well beyond the traditional niches of ornementals and selected vegetables such as strawberries! ■ NEW AG INTERNATIONAL 26