Plant Health Care Share Discussion Threads

[wan] 17/4/2018 09:21

Plant Health Care; Using novel biological products to address global agricultural markets

Plant Health Care is one of the leading providers of natural, plant yield enhancing products to the agricultural industry.

The Company has focused on selling or licensing its technologies in global agricultural markets in order to achieve the greatest return for its shareholders.

One of the rapidly growing trends in agriculture is biologicals. Vast sums are being made available for research and product development, and also via strategic partnerships and M&A in order to bring effective biological products to market.

To exemplify the interest, importance and potential size of this emerging market, one only has to look at Bayer's efforts and deal making regarding Biologics. In one example Bayer have partnered with Ginkgo Bioworks in a $100m funded venture. Another ag giant, Monsanto, has also been ramping up its biologicals portfolio, and not to mention the fact that Bayer is in the final stages of acquiring Monsanto!

Plant Health Care has already entered this market, with sales of their Harpin range of products recording impressive growth, importantly their Harpin Alpha Beta product appears to offer further growth potential going forwards, via additional crop targets and new distribution agreements.

Whilst the benefits of certain biolgicals to agriculture is widely recognised, bringing such products to market is not straight forward. Putting regulatory issues to one side (which in any regard should be more straight forward and quicker than bringing synthetic chemistry through the regulatory process). The very nature of biologics e.g. living organisms and bioactive compounds, means they are not as hardy and shelf stable as their synthetic alternatives, as they tend to degrade rapidly in heat and sunlight and have limited storage lives.

PHC's new technology offering, PREtec overcomes the instability associated with most biologics and are applicable to a wide range of crops. The first target market for PREtec is in soybeans to protect against soybean rust resistance and increase yields.

Soybeans represent a very large global market, and Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) is a major issue, particularly in Brazil where ASR is developing resistance even to the most advanced chemical fungicides in the market. PHC and their evaluation partners are trialing Pretec in Brazil soybeans and data from these ASR trials are due in Q2 2018.

Four global agricultural/seed majors are running field trials in Brazil of Innatus 3G added to chemical sprays for the control of Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), a devastating fungal disease of soybeans. Farmers spent US$1.7 billion on soybean fungicides in 2016 in Brazil; there are increasing concerns about disease resistance and the resulting impact on yield.

In the Company's trials, their lead peptides have shown promise for the control of ASR, especially for the control of resistant disease when used in mixture with conventional agrochemicals.

Exclusive rights to Innatus 3G for use in South American soybeans are expected to be licenced through a competitive licencing process in the second half of 2018.

Soybean rust resistance has evolved faster than the chemical companies have been able to adjust, to the extent that their chemicals have become less effective. If Plant Health Care's PREtec offering is proven to control of Asian Soybean Rust, then on its on its own this could be a company transforming product!

The use of PREtec in other markets and crops is also being evaluated;
PHC expanded its programme of trials in other crops. Results continued to show good performance for Innatus 3G under disease and drought stress, and for T-Rex 3G against nematodes. Y-Max 3G peptides increased yields even under optimal growing conditions.

Discussions continue with partners about future licencing of Innatus 3G in other crops and regions and of both T-Rex 3G and Y-Max 3G.

All five of the top global agricultural/seed companies and a number of other companies are testing lead peptides from PHC's PREtec platforms Innatus(TM) 3G, T-Rex 3G and Y-Max 3G.

2018 could well prove to be a decisive period for PHC, with 2019 providing further potential for material value and growth events to be realised.

The following interview on April 16th 2018 is worth listening to -

Plant Health Care website -

Please conduct your own research when making investment decisions, as the originator, or the threads contributors, could be either wrong or inaccurate.

[paulfred1] 16/4/2018 08:13

Very good interview on Directors Talk - v upbeat!

[wan] 13/4/2018 07:45

It does appear that this year could be a decisive year for PHC.

I am particularly attracted here by Plant Health Care's new technology offerings.

Soybean rust resistance has evolved faster than the chemical companies have been able to adjust, to the extent that their chemicals have become less effective.
If Plant Health Care's PHC279 is proven to control of Asian Soybean Rust, then on its on its own this could be a company transforming product!

Trial results for PHC279 are due in the second half of 2018, and I note that the soybean harvest is well advanced and complete is some areas of Brazil, with soybean rust presenting and causing yield loss in some areas -

April 11, 2018
2017/18 Brazilian Soybean Crop over Three Quarters Harvested
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.

The Brazilian soybean crop is 77% harvested compared to 82% last year and 77% for the 5-year average according to AgRural. The harvest is complete in central Brazil. In southern Brazil the soybeans are 84% harvested in Parana, 40% in Santa Catarina, and 35% in Rio Grande do Sul. The early yields in Rio Grande do Sul were better than expected, but the yields of the later maturing soybeans are less than expected. They blame the disappointing yields on soybean rust. Rio Grande do Sul ended up with the most cases of soybean rust in Brazil.

Full story -

[riddlerone] 10/4/2018 10:29

It doesnt look like that to me as new business from sugar cane should improve revenue,more delays in the much touted auctions is the annoying thing.They desperately need one of these to happen to prove the value and hence the market cap.

[trcml] 10/4/2018 10:29

Why would they want to say anything about Q1, other than as they have which is to confirm Brazil sugar cane?

[zipstuck] 10/4/2018 10:17

Wonder if the outlook is a veiled half one warning. Didn't say much about Q1

[riddlerone] 11/3/2018 15:00

Plant Health Care Announces H2Copla Launch in partnership with Coplacana in Brazil

hxxp://www.planthealthcare.com/plant-health-care-announces-h2copla-launch-partnership-coplacana-brazil/

[riddlerone] 06/3/2018 07:11

Dubai123,thanks I didn't know the disclosure rules had been changed.

[dubai123] 05/3/2018 22:19

Hey just posted something that might be of interest to you

[dubai123] 05/3/2018 22:18

Two things1. Under new rules post MiFID II institutions only need to disclose through 5% as opposed to 3%. Retail guys same old rules2. See this Bloomberg article of Asian soya bean. The opportunity here is massive for plant healthcarehttps://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-12-21/killer-fungus-threatens-brazilian-farms-as-pesticides-lose-power

[riddlerone] 04/3/2018 10:04

From last weeks placing we know
Directors 700k
RG 7m
Polar Capital 2m

From a 25m placing we still have approx 15m unaccounted for so far.
You have to hope that the market makers will have taken a fair share of that
and i cant see that they were running a short book so it certainly points to a rise in the coming weeks.
Anyone interested keep your eye on this site as they are a key tie up with PHC
hxxps://www.embrapa.br/en/noticias

[dubai123] 27/2/2018 21:35

Very exiting times ahead. Clearly a well support raise

[riddlerone] 27/2/2018 17:53

So fully subscribed,cant wait to see the holdings declared after these list on Thursday.

[chadders] 27/2/2018 16:20

Good old Richard, puts his money where his mouth is.

[chadders] 27/2/2018 14:12

A smart move in my view. Strengthen the balance sheet in advance of what may be a keenly contested auction.

[pugugly] 27/2/2018 07:19

Placing price higher than expected - Not significant dilution (imo)

[riddlerone] 27/2/2018 07:16

Well that was always on the cards,good to see at a decent price.Well supported by the directors and hopefully will be fully subscribed by lunchtime today.

[riddlerone] 20/2/2018 18:31

T20's closing/Rolling over from the news and rise on 24th.We are probably still another month away from news on the end of the trials will probably pull back again till then

[chadders] 16/2/2018 13:39

Good to see the share price moving in the right direction. A successful auction should add significant further value

[riddlerone] 10/2/2018 08:10

Bancella and Dux Agri implement transaction to grow Biostimulant and Biological products in Africa

"Dux Agri is the distribution partner for Plant Health Care PLC and has successfully introduced Messenger,® Pro-Act® and Myconate®technologies in South Africa in the Sub-tropical, Deciduous and cereal crops, these are now main stream products that farmers depend on for sustainable yield and quality improvements. When interviewed the Chairman and CEO Chris Richards of Plant health Care PLC , endorsed his support for the extended partnership of Bancella and Dux Agri, “ The industry knowledge and grower insights of this partnership is phenomenal” he explains

[riddlerone] 03/2/2018 16:36

Here's the timeframe for 2018 that PHC will be looking at

March
Main soybean harvesting month, full-season corn harvest wraps up.
Soybean exports in full swing.
Critical time for soybean rust to affect late maturing soybeans.
Safrinha corn crop in vegetative phase.
Begin planting winter small grain crop in southern Brazil.
Rains become more scattered, weather becomes dryer by the end of the month.
Temperatures become more moderate.

April
Finish soybean harvest.
Long lines of trucks taking soybeans to the ports and long lines of vessels waiting to load.
Safrinha corn crop in late vegetative stage or early reproductive.
Rains become more scattered in central Brazil, southern Brazil also starting to dry out. Temperatures ease to more moderate levels.

[modform] 24/1/2018 13:25

Having bought at around 15.5p, I have now sold the cash burn is still excessive, but will keep on watch list, could be on a turn around

[zipstuck] 24/1/2018 08:25

Looks like the cash burn for H2 is 2.4M hence probably loss on H2 of £2.4M so needs a licence sale to avoid cash call unless sufficient sales in 2018.

[chadders] 04/1/2018 22:59

Something brewing?