MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – June 6, 2016) – Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (the “Company” or “BVT”) (TSX VENTURE:BEE) announced today a finalized agreement to conduct demonstrations of its organic crop protection system on sunflower crops in Serbia.
Due to commence in July, the trials have been commissioned, and will be conducted by the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops “NS seme”, whose commercial arm is involved. These trials are slated to follow a very similar protocol as those developed for trials on sunflowers being conducted by the research team at North Dakota State University that are scheduled to start later this summer in North and South Dakota. The purpose of these trials is to assess the reduction of Sclerotinia after exposure to the BVT system. Sclerotinia is a common and devastating problem in sunflowers and canola worldwide for which are there are no economically viable pathogen controls currently available. With successful trials in Europe and North America by universities, positive results should accelerate the ability for BVT to commercialize its system both in Serbia and possibly Turkey, one of the top 10 sunflower growers in the world.
Serbian sunflower growers have approximately 300,000 acres of crops producing approximately 454,282 metric tons of sunflower seeds per annum and Turkey has approximately 1.2 million acres of crops producing in excess of 1.2 million tons. Both countries are significant sunflower growers and maintain their own regulations.
The Company has also reached an agreement with the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Agriculture to expand their trials of the BVT system to include raspberry, sour cherries and blueberry crops during the 2017 growing season. Serbia is one of the world’s largest raspberry growers in the world with 40,000 acres in production, producing 70,000 tonnes annually. These trials are being initiated to assess the reduction of Botrytis and Monolinia, the most common pathogens in soft fruits worldwide for which are there are serious concerns about pesticide load, residue and pathogen resistance build up. Successful trials could lead to early adoption in this country.
Due to the unique nature of the BVT system and its use of organic, naturally occurring inoculants, it has a limited chance of resistance build up within plants. Of significant interest to raspberry growers is an extended shelf life of fruit as it enables them to maintain far higher levels of saleable fruit due to their ability to transport the delicate produce to market in a timely manner. In previous trials, the BVT system has demonstrated an ability to extend the shelf life of treated fruit.
The Serbian trials were initiated through the Ecological Intensification Programme of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) with major support from BVT. The IUBS is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, established in 1919. Its objectives are:
- to promote the study of biological sciences
- to initiate, facilitate and coordinate research and other scientific activities necessitating international, interdisciplinary cooperation
- to ensure the discussion and dissemination of the results of cooperative research, particularly in connection with IUBS scientific programmes
- to support the organisation of international conferences and assist in the publication of their reports
The IUBS’ Ecological Intensification Programme involves a dozen nations and is co-ordinated through The Arthur Dobbs Institute based in Waterloo, Ontario. They have been instrumental in reaching international universities and agricultural projects involving pollinators.
As BVT enjoys increased market exposure, universities have shown increasing interest in conducting their own trials on its technology. These trials can be instrumental in the adoption of BVT technology by notable growers due to reinforced credibility within the agricultural industry. In recent weeks, BVT has received expressions of interest from Professors from Universities in Kenya, Japan and India. Representatives from these Universities are due to travel to meet with members of the BVT executive and R & D team during the months of in June and July in order to clearly establish opportunities and protocols for system trials within their respective countries.
BVT continues to implement its strategic plan by initially focusing on a few key crops, Tier 1, within defined markets while addressing meaningful opportunities within strong alternative markets such as Serbia as and when they arise. The Serbian fruit production is significant to the company with over 590,000 acres in production with crops including, raspberries, sour cherries, apples, pears and plums. Successful university trials should greatly assist in the adoption of the BVT system in Serbia.
About Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.
BVT has developed and owns patent-pending bee vectoring technology (consisting of a proprietary tray dispenser containing a unique carrier agent) that is designed to harmlessly utilize commercially reared bumblebees as natural delivery mechanisms for a variety of powdered mixtures comprised of organic compounds that inhibit or eliminate common crop diseases, while at the same time stimulating and enhancing the same crops. This unique and proprietary process facilitates a targeted delivery of crop controls using the simple process of bee pollination to replace traditional crop spraying, resulting in better yield, organic product and less impact on the environment without the use of water or disruptions to labour.
Additional information can be viewed at the Company’s website www.beevt.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.,
Michael Collinson, President & CEO
Neither 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.
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that BVT expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to BVT’S future plans and technologies, including the timing of such plans and technologies. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potential”, “indicate” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur. Although BVT believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include continued availability of capital, financing and required resources (such as human resources, equipment and/or other capital resources), and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of BVT’S management on the date the statements are made. BVT undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change, except as required by law.
Michael Collinson
President & CEO
647-660-5119
[email protected]
For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:
Josh Stanbury
416-628-7441
[email protected]
