A NEW TOOL TO MANAGE HEAT AND DROUGHT STRESS | back |
CROP STRESS EVERY SEASON
Every season, growers are at the mercy of the weather. Every season, crop stress from hot weather or inadequate rainfall reduce crop yield. Crop stress impacts the bottom-line, an unpredictable cost of doing business.
The financial impact of heat and drought stress goes beyond the grower. A growing global population demands more food, more fiber and more energy, challenging growers to maximize yield from every harvest. At the same time, factors such as global warming and restrictions on the use of water for agriculture make this challenge more difficult to achieve. Heat and drought mean one thing, lower yields. One industry expert estimates that drought stress reduces the U.S. average annual corn yield by 25 bu/A, equivalent to an $8B loss. Soon there will be a new tool to help growers manage risk from heat and drought stress. back to top 
CROP STRESS LEADS TO YIELD VARIABILITY
While crop stress occurs during periods of heat and drought, it also occurs from other factors including high plant populations, limited nitrogen, plant disease, field flooding, cold temperatures, and field variability, among others. All of these types of crop stress reduce growth and development and reduce yield.
In corn, the critical phase is considered to be during pollination and grain fill, however, early-season stress also impacts yield potential. Four consecutive days of visible wilting during the vegetative growth stage can reduce potential corn yield by 5% to 10%. Dr. Fred Below, University of Illinois corn physiologist notes that weather is the number one factor impacting corn yield, potentially accounting for 70 Bu/Acre of lost yield. Yield variability is directly related to crop stress. back to top 
INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION FROM AGROFRESH
Crops respond to stress by producing ethylene, a natural plant hormone. Ethylene produced under stress conditions triggers various negative responses including wilted or rolled leaves, firing of lower leaves, premature leaf death, reduced photosynthetic efficiency, loss of chlorophyll, poor pollination, and seed abortion, among others.
The active ingredient in INVINSA technology, 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), works by preventing the ethylene signal from triggering stress responses in field crops. INVINSA protection maintains active crop growth and development, resulting in a more robust crop, leading to increased kernel counts, and increased yield. Today, growers rely on a combination of genetics, biotechnology, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals to maximize yields. Soon, INVINSA technology will provide growers with a new tool to protect against crop stress and to maximize yields. INVINSA technology is under development by AgroFresh, Inc., an independent subsidiary of Rohm and Haas Co., Philadelphia, PA. AgroFresh has become one of the global experts in ethylene management. Today, AgroFresh has a portfolio of innovative products and services for the specialty crop, floral and agronomic industries built around its proprietary 1-MCP technology. Founded in 1999, AgroFresh continues to use its proprietary 1-MCP technology in products which help the specialty crop and floral industries manage ethylene to deliver fruits, vegetables and flowers with just-harvested freshness and high quality. back to top
LEADING UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS
Field research trials on corn, conducted in the U.S., Argentina and Chile have demonstrated yield increases from 5% to 15% with INVINSA technology applications under mild to moderate heat and drought stress conditions.
In Argentina, Dr. Maria Otegui, University of Buenos Aires evaluated INVINSA protection under severe induced heat stress conditions in corn. In these trials, INVINSA technology significantly increased kernel number and overall yield compared to control plants. Dr. Fred E. Below, University of Illinois, who has extensively evaluated INVINSA technology over three seasons, noted that INVINSA technology provided season-long protection. Dr. Below stated, “A crop's yield potential is chipped away by chronic conditions like heat stress and drought. Manage these stresses, and you get higher yield potential. It’s like compound interest in a savings account; it builds a little every day. The day-to-day impact of stress occurs over the length of a season, and the benefits of INVINSA technology will be seen based on a seasonal view.” INVINSA technology also is being evaluated on other crops, such as corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, rice, canola and sunflower. back to top 
WHAT IS INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION?
INVINSA crop stress protection technology is designed to protect field crops from yield-reducing stress during extended periods of high temperature, mild to moderate drought and other crop stresses. HOW DOES INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION WORK? INVINSA technology protects the crop by blocking the “stress” signal from ethylene, a natural plant hormone. Under heat and drought stress, ethylene signals the plant to reduce growth and development, to abort kernels, pods or bolls, and triggers premature leaf death. INVINSA technology prevents the ethylene stress signal allowing the plant to maintain active photosynthesis and healthy leaf function allowing the crop to optimize growth during periods of stress.
- HOW MUCH WILL INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION COST?
INVINSA technology will be priced to bring value to the grower.
- WHEN WILL INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE?
INVINSA’S first sales are expected within the next two years however, this is contingent on meeting future development milestones and obtaining necessary registrations.
- HOW AND WHEN DO I APPLY INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION?
INVINSA technology is applied to an actively growing crop as an over-the-top foliar spray. Invinsa technology enters the plants within a few minutes of application and thus is rain fast within 30 minutes.
- CAN BLOCKING A PLANT’S NATURAL RESPONSES TO HEAT AND DROUGHT STRESS CAUSE OTHER CROP ISSUES?
Plants under environmental stress actually overproduce ethylene leading to reduced plant growth and development. By protecting the plant from the ethylene stress signal, INVINSA technology allows the plant to continue active growth under conditions of environmental stress, preventing yield loss.
- ARE THERE ANY END-USE RESTRICTIONS FOR COMMODITIES TREATED WITH INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION?
In research studies, no detectable residues (<10 ppb) of 1-MCP have been found in grain commodities at harvest. This means that Invinsa technology treated commodities should not have any end-use restrictions.
- WHO CONDUCTED THE INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION RESEARCH?
A team of internationally respected researchers has contributed to the findings on INVINSA technology and its efficacy in crop stress protection for use in corn, soybean, cotton, sunflower, and wheat. They represent a variety of institutions which include:
| University of Buenos Aires | University of Illinois | | Iowa State University | Texas A&M University | | University of Arkansas | Utah State University | | Colorado State University | University of California-Riverside |
- WHERE WILL I BE ABLE TO PURCHASE INVINSA CROP STRESS PROTECTION?
Distribution for INVINSA technology has not yet been determined.
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