High Kill Rate From Organic Weed Controller

March 21, 2002

High Kill Rate From Pine Based Organic Weed Controller In Field Trials

Statement made by Dr Earl Stevens, Managing Director,
Certified Organics Limited

Certified Organics has received the results of Organic Interceptor™ field trials, undertaken by AgResearch over the last six months, and is now completing the final aspects of its application for commercial agricultural registration of its certified organic weed killer.

The weed killing results achieved under rigorous scientific conditions are excellent, and right in line with our expectations.

The field trials demonstrated that Organic Interceptor™ was just as effective at controlling a wide range of weed species as chemical herbicides.

The results of this first series of scientific trials are very positive, and armed with this evidence we can now complete our application to the Environmental Risk Management Authority ( ERMA ) and the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Board to gain full commercial registration.

It is one of the last pieces of jigsaw we need before we proceed to full marketing and distribution of Organic Interceptor™ in New Zealand. We already have the distribution channels primed for the product so that it can be marketed as soon as it is approved.

AgResearch will continue to undertake field trials on our behalf, and we are expecting further reports by the end of April. However, the first round of trial results is sufficient for us to proceed with our registration application.

Additional trials will consider things such as the effectiveness of Organic Interceptor™
 on weed species at different stages of growth
 when applied at different concentrations and water rates (volume per hectare)
 when using spray equipment fitted with a patented Interceptor™ foaming nozzle.

The results of these further scientific trials will be used to extend our registration application and to improve the quality of our technical advice to users.

For Organic Interceptor™ to kill weeds as well as chemical herbicides is an outstanding achievement, especially given the additional safety and environmental benefits Organic Interceptor™ offers over chemical herbicides.

With Organic Interceptor™ there are no residue problems, no ground contamination, no volatile toxic spray drift, residual insect kill, or human reaction to chemicals.

Organic Interceptor™ kills weeds through dehydration, achieved by disrupting the leaf and stem cell walls so that they effectively leak.

Being a certified organic product means farmers can confidently use Organic Interceptor™ without compromising their organic status. Non-organic farmers will also be able to capitalise on the benefits too.

We are on track to introduce Organic Interceptor™ to the New Zealand commercial agricultural and horticultural markets this summer.

Certified Organics already has Pesticides Board registration to market Organic Interceptor™ in a concentrated form to the home garden market, and for this market we now need only approval from ERMA for our range of “ready to use” trigger spray packs before a full marketing campaign can be mounted. This approval is anticipated within the next month.

Encouraging results are also evident from additional trials that have been conducted over the last four months within the Auckland region to gauge the efficacy of Organic Interceptor™ as a roadside weed control agent. Urban weed control is a very contentious issue with many ratepayers and Organic Interceptor™ is being well received wherever it is trialled.

Contractors engaged in work with Waitakere and North Shore cities, and the Rodney District Council, are currently trialing our product.

When completed these urban trials will further enhance the profile of Organic Interceptor™ and support our marketing campaign to local authorities throughout the country.
Ends

For more information contact Dr Earl Stevens, Managing Director, Certified Organics Limited, Tel 09 525 3432

Issued on behalf of Certified Organics by Dennis Lynch, Network Communications, Tel 0-9-379 3154.

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