AgroFresh, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rohm and Haas, has announced the introduction of its Invinsa technology, an important new chemistry that protects agronomic crop yields against heat and drought stress.

Over the past two years, AgroFresh and university researchers have conducted research trials using the new Invinsa technology in corn, soybeans, cotton, sunflowers and other crops, in both North America and South America.

In field trials with heat and drought stress, the Invinsa technology has shown up to 20 percent higher yields as compared to the untreated control.

Protecting plants from ethylene, a naturally-occurring substance produced by all plants, is the key to the new technology. Invinsa technology prevents ethylene-induced stress responses, allowing the crop to remain actively growing during periods of environmental stress.

“This is important because under conditions of heat and drought stress, ethylene signals flowers to abort and leaves to senesce and causes other negative effects, limiting the plant's productivity,” said Trent Leopold, AgroFresh vice-president of strategic market development.

AgroFresh's proprietary 1-MCP technology (1-Methylcyclopropene) under the SmartFresh Quality System was first used in 2001 to enhance fruit quality. Today over 50 percent of apples in the United States are SmartFresh quality apples and the business continues to grow with over 26 registrations globally.

Invinsa technology brings the 1-MCP and ethylene management to the agribusiness industry.

“There is still work ahead to characterize the full potential,” said AgroFresh President John Buckley, “but without question, Invinsa technology has far-reaching positive implications.”

“We are encouraged by the results of field trials and our early progress in demonstrating the benefits of the Invinsa technology. We are in a position to help growers manage the risk of environmental stress and therefore protect yields.

“AgroFresh is now poised to expand its focus into agronomic crops with its Invinsa technology, furthering its corporate mission to increase the availability and consumption of fresh produce and enhance agricultural production worldwide,” said Leopold.

For more information about AgroFresh visit http://www.agrofresh.com.