PESTOLOGY VOL. XLI NO.

6 JUNE 2017

EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW WITH MR. ROGER TRIPATHI,

PRESIDENT, ACADIAN PLANT HEALTH
In an exclusive interview to Mr. Rangarajan Sarathy, Editor in chief, PESTOLOGY, Mr. Roger
Tripathi, President, Acadian Plant Health, Nova Scotia, Canada outlined the role of Acadian Plant
Health in the Indian agricultural scenario, new product launches in India and the company’s
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) initiatives.

PESTOLOGY : Welcome to India. How would you

describe the evolution of biostimulants as a category
in agriculture and their integration with other crop
protection and fertilizer products as there was no such
category earlier?
ROGER TRIPATHI (RT) : Biostimulants are in the fast-
emerging category of agricultural inputs that help growers,
the world over, deal with the most difficult challenges arising
from climate change. Weather-related, abiotic stresses cause
more damage to crops than biotic stresses. Biostimulants
improve soil health, help plants overcome abiotic and biotic
stresses and help farmers grow better crops.
Biostimulants are neither macronutrient fertilizers, nor
are they crop protection products. Many of them, like
Mr. Roger Tripathi,
Acadian Plant Health™ products, are of natural origin and
President,
are becoming vital components of progressive growers’
Acadian Plant Health
integrated crop solution approach. Their application, in
addition to conventional crop protection products and synthetic fertilizers, improves the efficacy of the
overall, sustainable crop program.
Biostimulants are gaining recognition for contributing to increased crop yields, enhancing nutrient
uptake efficiency, reducing losses caused by environment stresses and ensuring growers’ return in
a way that is sustainable.
PESTOLOGY : What are the different types of biostimulants and in particular seaweed-based
biostimulants? Would you please elaborate on the uniqueness of Ascophyllum nodosum-based
seaweed extracts compared to other seaweed-based products?
RT : Biostimulants are generally acid based, extract based or microbial. Amino acids, fulvic acids
and humic acids are most prominent, but with a slowdown in innovation, the global share of acid
biostimulants is decreasing. Extracts, derived preferably from Ascophyllum nodosum, are becoming
more and more popular, and their global market share is growing. Other products, e.g. microbial
biostimulants, are also gaining ground, but their share remains less significant.
The global biostimulants market is rapidly growing and at present is valued at approximately US$1.8
billion. Future Market Insights (FMI) in their report titled, “Biostimulants Market: Global Industry Analysis
and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025” estimates that seaweed-based biostimulants capture about
35% of the biostimulant market and they expect the sector to grow to US$4.1 billion by 2025. This
segment is growing at about 11% per year.

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There are more than 10,000 species of seaweed, but Ascophyllum nodosum is the most important
for agriculture because of its unique biochemical composition. Ascophyllum thrives in the cold, clean,
inter-tidal waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and has developed its own stress-fighting compounds.
Acadian Plant Health™ (APH™), a division of Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL), harvests the seaweed,
processes it in a unique way and supplies it to the global agricultural sector. ASL also produces technical
products for global animal feed, food and botanical industries. APH™ uses a low-heat, gentle process
to preserve the natural, active compounds of Ascophyllum, which are extracted in their unaltered form.
The company is globally recognized for its consistent product quality, sustainable harvesting methods
and scientific stewardship of the seaweed resource.
PESTOLOGY : What is the awareness of biostimulants and various seaweed products by
farmers, retailers, dealers and distributors?
RT : Biostimulants are gaining recognition for their important role in integrated agriculture. There is
a trend among major crop protection and fertilizer companies to diversify their product portfolios and
integrate biostimulants into crop production. This is reflected by the recent expansion of European
Biostimulant Industry Council’s (EBIC’s) membership to include well-established agricultural companies
such as BASF, Bayer CropScience and FMC Corporation, which have recently expanded their product
portfolios.
Awareness of the benefits of biostimulants in improving crop productivity and quality is increasing. There
is greater investment in this segment by global agricultural companies, support of the government in
promoting sustainable technologies and increased consumer demand for the consumption of safe
and nutritious food. This has sparked increased awareness of the benefits of biostimulant use among
progressive growers.
PESTOLOGY : How can biostimulants help farmers in increasing their income? How can Acadian
Plant Health™ contribute to the initiative to double the farmers’ income by 2022 undertaken
by our Prime Minister?
RT : Biostimulants optimize and improve the efficacy of fertilizers and pesticides, thus encouraging
balanced, optimal use of synthetic chemicals. They improve soil health, promote root growth, increase
photosynthesis efficiency and tolerance to environmental stresses. They also increase the number
of flowers and fruit and help plants fight disease, resulting in higher quality yield and a better return
on investment for farmers.
APH™ is dedicated to maximizing crop yields, while protecting the environment. Acadian’s products
are scientifically proven to increase crop production and farmers’ return on investment. Hundreds
of field trials have shown that the use of Acadian Plant Health™ products, powered by the Acadian
BioSwitch™ technology, is a consistent solution to problems caused by today’s most serious and
growing challenges such as drought, chill, heat and salinity. Acadian Plant Health™ is excited and
committed to supporting the Prime Minister’s push for sustainable agriculture, improving soil health
and doubling farmers’ income.
PESTOLOGY : What are the demand drivers for biostimulants and why?
RT : Aware of the importance of biostimulants for increasing crop yields and quality, the government
is supporting the introduction of these sustainable technologies in agriculture. With a backdrop of
rapid economic growth and increasing population, intensive agricultural practices are becoming
more widespread. In addition, depleting soil conditions, climate change and less-than-ideal growing
programs are adding to the challenge of adequate food production in India. These situations created the
demand for high-quality biostimulants, and I feel that growing more food, while using environmentally
sustainable technologies, has become a necessity. That’s why APH™ products are a perfect fit for India.
PESTOLOGY : What are the steps taken for expanding the presence of APH™’s biostimulant
and bionutritional solutions based on Ascophyllum nodosum in India? How do you rate the
Indian market potential for these types of innovative solutions?
RT : Acadian Plant Health™ announced new partnerships and the launch of its biostimulants and
Acadian BioSwitch™ technology in the Indian market during the last week of May. This launch will
further the company’s commitment to providing proven solutions to growers within the agricultural

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industry. By offering a range of premium products for maximizing crop yields, focusing on innovation,
sustainability, grower and partner relationships and its people, APH™ empowers growers and their
crops to sustainably feed the world today and in the future. The launch of this new technology will lay
the foundation for our long-term agricultural strategy in India. Acadian Plant Health™ is committed to
creating new opportunities for biostimulants and unique technologies such as Acadian BioSwitch™. With
this launch and the establishment of key partnerships, APH™ is developing strong, lasting relationships
with growers, distribution partners and key contributors within India.
Most of the seaweed products in the Indian market are “me too” products and many of them are derived
from other seaweed species – not from Ascophyllum nodosum, which has proven efficacy in the field.
Therefore, the products of Acadian Plant Health™ have enormous potential in the Indian agricultural
market. The farmer’s ability to increase yield, crop quality and his revenue in a sustainable way are
the results needed to address current and future agricultural challenges in India.
PESTOLOGY : How is Acadian Plant Health™ evolving globally? What opportunities do you
see for APH™ in India with its more than 35 years of expertise?
RT : APH™ is the world leader in biostimulant and bionutritional solutions derived from Ascophyllum
nodosum, a seaweed species that is scientifically proven to increase crop yields and return on
investment for farmers. Acadian Seaplants Limited (ASL), the parent company of Acadian Plant Health™,
was founded by Louis Deveau 36 years ago in Canada. Today, it is led by his son, Jean Paul Deveau,
President and CEO. ASL is a world leader in the processing and manufacturing of seaweed-based
agricultural products, animal feed supplements, food and specialty / functional ingredients for cosmetics
and health care. Acadian’s products are being exported to over 80 countries across the globe. ASL
has received many awards and acknowledgements. For example, the company was named one of
Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 15 years in a row, it received an Environment Excellence
Award for its sustainable harvesting and management of natural resources and both Louis and Jean
Paul Deveau were inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame.
In early 2016, Acadian Seaplants Limited re-named and relaunched its agricultural products division
– Acadian Plant Health™ – to reflect its commitment to providing effective solutions to growers within
the global agricultural industry. APH™ has a fundamental purpose of sustainably empowering plants
and will offer a range of premium products for maximizing crop yields.
At present, the Indian market is saturated with low-quality products, but the Indian biostimulant
industry is growing, and there is an ever-increasing demand for high quality, innovative and sustainable
agricultural products that are safe for the environment. APH™ will provide growers with the solutions
they want and need to maximize their crops’ performance, while keeping sustainability at the forefront.
PESTOLOGY : Earlier this year, during the 15th New Ag International Conference & Exhibition in
Berlin, Germany, you unveiled your technology platform Acadian BioSwitch™. Please describe
the technology and what makes it unique and effective.
RT : Acadian BioSwitch™ is an advanced technology that enhances natural processes within plants.
This is accomplished by switching on gene expression and the production of active compounds that
in turn stimulate plant growth and protection against environmental stresses. Our products are being
developed with an integrated crop program approach and are scientifically proven to increase crop yield
and farmers’ return on investment. Designed for modern agriculture, there are four key elements that
make this technology unique: its sustainability; its proprietary manufacturing process; its composition,
consisting of an exclusive mix of beneficial bioactive compounds; and its efficacy, backed by years of
robust science and research.
The launch of the Acadian BioSwitch™ technology lays the foundation for our long-term agricultural
strategy. We designed a ‘seal of quality’, representing the technology. Going forward, all crop inputs
that are based on this technology will bear the seal, and the growers will be able to easily identify
products powered by the Acadian BioSwitch™ technology.
Because Acadian BioSwitch™ is the “trigger technology” – the system responsible for stimulating certain
plant growth mechanisms – behind several trusted APH™ brands, growers can rest assured that each
of our products will provide the same superior performance with every application, year after year.

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As Jean Paul Deveau said, “For 36 years, we have been listening to the challenges that farmers are
facing in growing their crops and we are proud that we have been able to provide them with practical
and sustainable solutions. Similarly, with the launch of the Acadian BioSwitch™ technology – field
proven, supported by a strong foundation of research and science, supported by researchers from
around the world – we can be assured that our products will work where it matters most – in the field.”
PESTOLOGY : Can you elaborate on the recent launches in India of your partnership and your
innovative, proprietary products? What do they offer to Indian agriculture?
RT : We are very pleased with and excited about the opportunities in India and the potential for APH™
and its products and technologies for agricultural markets. We partnered with the Indian Council of
Food and Agriculture (ICFA) to organize the National Round Table of CEOs on Eco Agriculture and
Bio Products in Delhi on May 22, 2017. We launched our distribution partnerships and the Acadian
BioSwitch™ technology to the Indian market during this event. Leading industry CEOs, government
representatives, policy makers, experts, farmers’ organizations, scientists and extension agents
attended the event. A Working Group on Eco Agriculture and Bio Products was formed with a
memorandum on an action plan for biostimulant registration guidelines and for using these types of
products to support the government’s initiatives.
Kolkata-based, 1,300-crore, Krishi Rasayan Group launched AscoMax™ in Kolkata on May 23rd,
coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the company. On this occasion, Atul Churiwal, Chairman & MD of
Krishi Rasayan Group, said that it was a historic moment for Krishi Rasayan to enter into an association
with Canada-based Acadian Plant Health™ and to launch the organic biostimulant AscoMax™ into a
market growing at a rate of 15 20% annually. There is a huge demand for pure, organic products from
growers of tea and various vegetable crops in the north-eastern states. Krishi Rasayan, a leading
and growing agricultural company in India, has a strong distribution network and all the infrastructure
required to make AscoMax™ available in key agricultural areas. Both organizations consider this a
true partnership that will harness the market potential of AscoMax™.
On May 25th, in Indore, Crystal Crop Protection Pvt. Ltd., one of the fastest-growing agrochemical
companies in India, launched the renowned yield-enhancing biostimulant Toggle® Plus, another
product of Acadian Plant Health™.
Ankur Aggarwal, Managing Director of Crystal Crop Protection, agreed that the imperative to grow
more food using environmentally sustainable technologies is driving sales of biostimulants at a fast
pace. Therefore, Toggle® Plus, a natural and eco-friendly product derived from Ascophyllum nodosum,
manufactured by a reputable Canadian company, holds enormous promise in the Indian agricultural
market for increasing the yield, quality and farmers’ return on investment in a sustainable way.
PESTOLOGY : Last but not least, would you please share your experience from other markets
such as Europe and the United States? What are the biostimulant regulations and guidelines
there?
RT : As biostimulants are gaining recognition in integrated agriculture for contributing to soil health, the
mitigation of abiotic stress, improvements in yield, efficiency of nutrient and water uptake; consequently,
the industry is seeking consensus in defining the term. Globally, there appears to be an agreement
that these are materials that are neither fertilizers nor pesticides, and they are beneficial to the health
and development of plants. The European Biostimulant Industry Council (EBIC), for example, has
proposed the following definition: “Plant biostimulants contain substance(s) and/or micro-organisms
whose function when applied to plants or the rhizosphere is to stimulate natural processes to enhance/
benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality.”
In the United States, there is no single framework for registering or labelling these products, which
makes it difficult for many companies to register biostimulants in the various American states. Instead,
each state has its own fertilizer regulatory program. Thus, there are several different – and sometimes
conflicting – standards for managing fertilizers, plant or soil amendments and/or biostimulants. In
response to these issues, the Biostimulant Coalition, a group of companies that are co-operating in
addressing the regulatory and legislative issues regarding biostimulants in the United States, has
proposed a definition that differs slightly from the proposed European definition: “A biostimulant is a
material that, when applied to a plant, seed, soil or growing media – in conjunction with established

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AscoMax Launch by Krishi Rasayan

Toggle Plus launch at Indore

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ICFA Conference – National Round Table organised by Acadian

fertilization plans – enhances the plant’s nutrient use efficiency, or provides other direct or indirect
benefits to plant development or stress response.”
APH™, as a world-leading manufacturer of biostimulants based on Ascophyllum nodosum, is a
primary member of both EBIC and the Biostimulant Coalition and engages with others in the industry
to establish a common definition and regulatory guidelines.
PESTOLOGY : Does APH™ support any Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in
India and abroad?
RT : Sustainability, as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is the need of the hour for all of us.
APH™ is a world leader in sustainable seaweed harvesting. When we harvest, there is no damage to
the ocean’s ecosystem, and the Ascophyllum seaweed regenerates completely, making the natural
resource fully renewable. Sustainably empowering plants is the fundamental purpose of Acadian
Plant Health™. Along with sustainability, one of our main pillars is improving farmers’ knowledge and
productivity to ensure a good return on investment for all growers.
APH™ sustainability initiatives in India also include the organization of education and training for
select farming communities. We transfer the knowledge of modern agricultural practices to growers
to assist them in improving soil health, thereby helping them to grow crops more efficiently and to
strengthen their farms’ productivity in a sustainable way. This is one example of our contribution toward
the national agricultural growth.
PESTOLOGY : How do you see Acadian Plant Health™ succeeding in India?
RT : Indian agriculture provides tremendous growth opportunities for high-quality biostimulants and
soil health products. Indian farmers are becoming more educated and they want to use good quality,
safe products for their crops. Soil health in most of the country has weakened and there is an urgent
need to improve it and make agriculture sustainable. The government is encouraging the use of
organic inputs to grow safe and nutritious, high-quality food. Increasing investment in infrastructure
such as warehousing, irrigation, e markets, etc. is driving the demand for biostimulants at a pace
never experienced before. We are confident that we will be able to fulfill the growing need and prosper,
together, with our partners and the Indian growers. APH™ is committed to creating ‘win-win’ partnerships
with Indian agriculture stakeholders, distribution partners and, most importantly, with Indian farmers.

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