UPL, a leading provider of sustainable agricultural solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its innovative business line called Natural Plan Protection (NPP). To unveil this exciting initiative, UPL convened a special meeting with leading advisors from the cherry industry.
The event, held at the Sun Monticello Hotel, brought together cherry experts and industry representatives to explore and discuss the possibilities offered by NPP. The event was a unique opportunity to share information on how UPL is redefining sustainability in agriculture by presenting a complete portfolio of biosolutions including biocontrol and biostimulation products.
Cristóbal González, UPL's Head of Strategies and Communications, highlighted the importance of the meeting, stating: "The idea is to meet with key advisors and different industry representatives, with the purpose of introducing them to this new business unit and how, through NPP, UPL is reimagining sustainability, presenting a portfolio of biosolutions, both for biocontrol and biostimulation."
One of the products highlighted at the event was Vacciplant, a resistance inducer developed worldwide and locally adapted by UPL in Chile and Peru over more than 5 years. Verónica Soffia, head of the regulatory and development area at UPL for Chile and Peru, explained: “This is a product based on laminarin, which is an active ingredient. Its contribution is that it is a new segment. In Chile, we are generally very dedicated to synthetic fungicides and bactericides, and the truth is that this product is somewhat revolutionary, in the sense that it does not control the pathogen, but rather activates the plant’s immunization. This is something that is little known, but which is much more developed in the rest of the world. In addition, it does not leave residues in the plant, therefore, we will be able to produce fruits and vegetables with less impact from pesticide residues.”
For her part, Marlén Ayala, an academic from the Catholic University, brought an academic perspective to the meeting by highlighting the relevance of self-defense solutions in plants, especially in the context of the cherry industry. She commented: “The topic we are discussing today about the self-defense mechanism in plants and how it is associated with the cherry tree is a cutting-edge topic, because we are looking for new solutions to what is already conventional. So these types of solutions are much more friendly to plants and the environment and also offer solutions that are harmless and low in residue, taking advantage of natural responses from plants, which is very novel and valuable.”
In summary, the meeting highlighted the importance of UPL's NPP in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing pesticide residues in cherry production. The experts gathered shared an optimistic vision on how these innovative solutions can improve the identity of the Chilean cherry and contribute to caring for the environment.
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