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Industry Sector: Agrochemicals
Purpose and Origin: Agricultural plant immunity enhancer, developed by Prof. Nariman Salakhudinov, of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Siberian Branch). The technology consists of a product having polyvalent properties, acting both as fungous disease inhibitor as well as stimulant for plant growth and resistance to external factors.
Technical Detail: The product is a liquid concentrate derived from metabolites of terpenoid, steroid and phenol, naturally present in Siberian fir trees and lichen, and extracted with the help of readily available organic solvents. The metabolites include triterpene acids, fatty acids C12-C20 and their ethers, sterols and their ethers, and various phenol combinations. The production process is fairly simple and can be undertaken with standard extraction and evaporation equipment, without the need for expensive new investment. Being based on plant raw material the product is environmentally friendly, ecologically balanced, and meets the growing concerns about synthetic substances and their potential harmful effects.
Potential Applications: The product is totally safe to human beings and animals, and can be applied to any plant using existing spraying devices without the requirement for any undue precautions.
Market Potential: In 1994 the worldwide market for pesticides and fungicides was US$15 billion, mostly in synthetic chemical products. The growing tendency in plant protection is towards ecologically balanced/neutral preparations, which the product is. In addition the product has a substantial stimulating effect on both plant growth and resistance to adverse external factors (drought, temperature extremes, etc..). Coupled with its simple production process and cost structure it is expected to take a substantial share of this market within the next 5 years, and
Marketing Category: The technology has been fully tested in field and laboratory modes. It is amenable to be both exploited by the company for its own account by setting up its own production facility, or to be licensed to producers already established in this field. Due to its simplicity and multiple advantages, the technology is expected to be of particular interest to developing countries.
Costs and Limitations: The process is very cost effective and its raw material base is available all over the world. Initial investment cost very low. As opposed to chemical synthetic pesticides and fungicides, there is no limitation on the use of the product.
Alternatives Process: Although similar technologies in this field do exist today, the product is safer, more cost effective and simpler to produce and apply, and environmentally friendlier than most of these technologies.
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