Caption: James Millton of Gisborne’s Millton Vineyard, left, and Chris Henry of Good Health Pesticide Co in one of the
vineyards where the new fungicide has been used successfully.
From the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
For immediate release
LEADING-EDGE SCIENCE FIGHTS FUNGUS
The inventor of a world-first softsoap fungicide believes the product is just what environmentally conscious growers and
customers are demanding.
The fungicide has been developed by Chris Henry of the Good Health Pesticide Co Ltd at Waiuku, south of Auckland. It is
a formulation of potassium soaps designed to fight Botrytis, a disease that rots grapes and disfigures lemons. “It works
by making a plant activate its own defences,” Mr Henry says. “Modern agrochemsitry is searching for these components as
they activate the plant’s natural defence mechanism before disease pressure exists. “These are simple compounds, but it
really is leading-edge science because it makes the plant do the work.” Mr Henry discovered the formulation in the early
1990s. “I was an organic orchardist and looking for an organic insecticide. I came up with the softsoap formulation,
which didn’t work well as an insecticide, but it did as a fungicide, particularly against Botrytis.” His project was
supported by Technology New Zealand – part of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology – which invests in
research into new products, processes or services. Mr Henry says the soap is environmentally safe and meets organic
standards internationally. He has licensed the product to Yates New Zealand Ltd. Yates’ research manager, Peter de Jong,
says the formulation is unique because it is a soap-based fungicide. “Although not quite as effective as some chemicals,
it is still a very good option for fighting Botrytis and at half the price,” he says. Yates is licensed to make and
market the product in New Zealand and Australia under the brand name Protector. It is undergoing registration with the
Agricultural Chemicals Registration Board and the company hopes to have it fully registered for spring 2001. Although
Yates is particularly interested in using the formulation to fight Botrytis in grapes, it is also investigating whether
it can be applied to kiwifruit and berryfruit. -ends-
Caption: James Millton of Gisborne’s Millton Vineyard, left, and Chris Henry of Good Health Pesticide Co in one of the
vineyards where the new fungicide has been used successfully.
Contact: · Chris Henry, Good Health Pesticide Co Ltd, Brook Rd, RD 4, Waiuku. Ph: (09) 235-1202, (025) 294 1490. Fax:
(09) 235-1202. · Peter de Jong, research manager, Yates New Zealand Ltd, Nelson. Ph: (03) 544-2339. Fax (03) 544-2338.
Email: pete.dejong@yates.co.nz · Nigel Metge, Technology New Zealand at the Foundation for Research, Science and
Technology (Auckland Office), (09) 912-6730, or 021 454-095. Website: www.technz.co.nz
Prepared on behalf of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology by ID Communications. Contact: Ian Carson (04)
477-2525, ian@idcomm.co.nz