MustGrow Reports Successful Postharvest Applications in Stored Potatoes
- Successful postharvest study in both Fusarium dry rot disease control and sprout suppression
- MustGrow’s mustard-based technology outperformed leading synthetic chemical standards
- No combination treatment products currently exist that address both disease and sprouting
- Potato postharvest program may now transition to Sumitomo Corporation across the Americas and Bayer across Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Canada, Feb. 9, 2022 – MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (FRA: 0C0) (“MustGrow”) is pleased to announce successful postharvest trials in both disease control and sprout suppression of stored potatoes conducted by a third-party independent laboratory. MustGrow’s organic mustard plant-based technology outperformed leading synthetic chemical standards for treatment of stored potatoes for both Fusarium dry rot disease and sprouting. No combination solutions currently exist that treat both disease and sprouting – making MustGrow’s application unique in addressing both postharvest issues in potatoes simultaneously.
MustGrow’s postharvest development program may now transition to Sumitomo Corporation across the Americas (potatoes and bananas) and Bayer across Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (potatoes only). Further testing and trials are required to evaluate commercial potential. Additional postharvest applications may also be trialed, including disease control in large shipping containers.
MustGrow had previously announced separate collaboration agreements with Sumitomo Corporation and Bayer to evaluate the efficacy and commercial potential of MustGrow’s technology.
Disease Control – Fusarium Dry Rot
MustGrow’s mustard-derived technology was trialed versus hydrogen peroxide, a leading synthetic chemistry standard, to measure control (kill) of Fusarium dry rot (Fusarium sambucinum conidia and F. sambucinum). MustGrow’s technology outperformed the chemical standard at multiple rates with statistical significance. Disease control was measured after the 5-week interval, highlighting the effectiveness of MustGrow’s technology at killing not only the Fusarium dry rot itself, but also the disease’s ability to reform and replicate.
Exhibit 1: Quartered potatoes photographed after 5 weeks. Dark patches represent Fusarium dry rot.
Sprout Inhibition Success
MustGrow’s mustard-derived technology outperformed the chemical standard in sprout suppression, chlorpropham (“CIPC”), at multiple rates with statistical significance after the 5-week period. Additionally, sprouts still remained absent at the conclusion of the trial, highlighting the MustGrow technology’s outperformance. Sprout suppression utilizing MustGrow’s technology demonstrated over 2x the length of control over the CIPC standard rate during the 5-week study. MustGrow’s technology, mustard-derived AITC, has a short ‘half-life’ of 24-72 hours, whereas CIPC is known to accumulate within walls, surfaces, conveyor belts and facility concrete, with no sanitization procedure able to completely eliminate its presence. CIPC has been banned by the European Union as of Oct. 8, 2020.
Exhibit 2: Potato sprouts photographed after 5 weeks
Excerpt from third-party laboratory report: “The MustGrow experimental treatments provide control of both sprouting and Fusarium dry rot in stored potatoes. With pressure globally on chlorpropham as a sprout control for table potatoes, this treatment shows considerable promise as a single treatment to manage several major storage issues.”
Potato Sprouting Treatment
Potatoes, the world’s fourth most important food crop in terms of human consumption after maize, wheat and rice[1], is a US$4 billion industry in the US, with as much as 33% of yield lost per year due to postharvest issues – approximately US$1.3 billion in lost revenue[2]. Potatoes require up to nine months of storage and become waste without proper sprout suppression management, making postharvest sprout suppression a key element of potato storage. The current annual sprout suppression market is estimated at US$60 million in Europe and over US$100 million globally[3].
The leading agrochemical product for sprout suppression, CIPC, was banned by the European Union on Oct. 8, 2020. For over 60 years, CIPC has long been the major global sprout suppressant, widely applied to stored potatoes. With this ban now effective, potato growers will be forced to refrigerate produce, adding an estimated US$150 million annual expenditure in the European Union3. The additional capital expenditure and refrigeration energy consumption make this temporary approach unsustainable. Although the ban was anticipated, no effective treatment alternatives have emerged – creating a major problem for existing potato storage sites.
About MustGrow
MustGrow is a publicly traded (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (FRA: 0C0) agriculture biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high value crops, including fruits & vegetables and other industries. MustGrow has designed and owns a US EPA-approved natural solution that uses the mustard seed’s natural defence mechanism to protect plants from pests and diseases. Over 110 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow’s safe and effective signature technologies. The product, in granule format, is EPA-approved across all key US states and by Health Canada’s PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) as a biopesticide for high value crops such as in fruit & vegetables. MustGrow has now concentrated a mustard extract biopesticide in liquid format, TerraMG, and with regulatory approval, could be applied through standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features. In addition, the Company’s mustard-derived extract technologies could have other applications in several different industries from preplant soil treatment, to weed control, to postharvest disease control and food preservation.
The Company has approximately 47.8 million basic common shares issued and outstanding and 54.7 million shares fully diluted. For further details please visit www.mustgrow.ca.
[1] https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/78618
[3] Research commissioned from independent consultant
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Corey Giasson”
Director & CEO
Phone: +1-306-668-2652
info@mustgrow.ca
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the results, performance or achievements of MustGrow.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements MustGrow makes regarding: (i) potential product approvals; and (ii) anticipated actions by partners to drive field development work including dose rates, application frequency, application methods, and the regulatory work necessary for commercialization.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of MustGrow to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, MustGrow. Important factors that could cause MustGrow’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (i) the preferences and choices of agricultural regulators with respect to product approval timelines; (ii) the ability of MustGrow’s partners to meet obligations under their respective agreements; and (iii) other risks described in more detail in MustGrow’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other continuous disclosure documents filed by MustGrow with the applicable securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Readers are referred to such documents for more detailed information about MustGrow, which is subject to the qualifications, assumptions and notes set forth therein.
This release does not constitute an offer for sale of, nor a solicitation for offers to buy, any securities in the United States.
Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.