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.
www.imaflex.com
SOURCE Imaflex Inc.