Plant Health Care's plant response elicitor (PREtec) peptides represent a novel class of technology that stimulate the plant to defend itself. Derived from natural proteins, PREtec is an environmentally friendly approach to protecting crops and increasing yields and is compatible with mainstream agricultural practice. The company states PREtec peptides promote plant health, suppress disease and soil nematodes, and increase yield. PREtec may allow farmers to reduce applications of less safe chemical fungicides and achieve better control of damaging plant diseases.

Multiple PREtec products are being evaluated, initially focusing on improving disease and nematode control, and stress tolerance. The parties are committed to rapidly moving new products through the development process in order to make this novel technology available to growers as soon as possible.

Wilbur-Ellis has been working with PREtec over the last growing season to understand how the technology works and where to best position it in the market. The first launch is expected as early as the end of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.