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DES MOINES, Iowa, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kemin Crop Technologies, an initiative of Kemin Industries focused on providing solutions for commercial horticulture, today launched a new product, Valena™, a soil amendment sourced from a proprietary strain of Euglena gracilis (algae) rich in beta-glucan. Valena is designed to support the growth of healthy and strong plants from day one. The new product was unveiled at the Biocontrols USA West Conference & Expo in San Diego, California.

"Valena is the first product in our Crop Health platform. As a new supplier in the horticulture industry, we want to offer unique and innovative solutions for growers," said Marsha Bro, General Manager for Kemin Crop Technologies. 

Valena consists of more than 50 percent beta-glucans and more than 20 percent protein and other essential nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Beta-glucans can be found in many sources, but the unique and highly pure form of 1,3 beta-glucan from Euglena is the only one of its kind.

By adding Valena in the growing environment, the plant, perceiving it as a pathological encounter acting as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)^1-3, responds to counteract a potential threat. This results in more efficient nutrient uptake and robust growth that the plant does naturally on its own.

"This is a new and exciting product that can help growers give their soil and subsequent crops an added advantage," said Emily Fuerst, R&D Director. "In Kemin greenhouse trials we have seen significant improvement in crops for select spring annual plants, as well as vegetables. Future studies are in progress to determine how Valena can assist during environmental stresses and impact crop shelf life, as well as its overall quality characteristics."  

Valena is available in the United States through Kemin Sales Managers. To learn more about Valena, click here.

About Kemin Industries

Kemin (www.kemin.com) has been dedicated to using applied science to improve the quality of life for over half a century. As a global company touching 3.8 billion people every day with its products, Kemin is committed to improving the quality, safety and efficacy of food, feed and health-related products to feed a growing population and be a resource for others in need.

Committed to feed and food safety, Kemin maintains top-of-the-line manufacturing facilities where over 500 specialty ingredients are made for humans and animals in the global feed and food industries, as well as the health, nutrition and beauty markets. The company provides product solutions and options to customers in more than 120 countries.

A privately held, family owned and operated company, Kemin has more than 2,500 global employees and operates in 90 countries including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Italy, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

Media Contact:
Tatiana Giacinti, Product Manager, Tatiana.giacinti@kemin.com, +1 515 559 4607

References:

1. Schmidt, W. and J. Ebel (1987). Specific binding of a fungal glucan phytoalexin elicitor to membrane fractions from soybean Glycine max. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 84:4117-4121.
2. Cosio, E., Frey, T., Verduyn, R., van Boom, J., and J. Ebel (1990). High-affinity binding of a synthetic heptaglucoside and fungal glucan phytoalexin elicitors to soybean membranes, FEBS Lett. 271:223-226.
3. Cheong, J. and M. Hahn (1991). A specific, high-affinity binding site for the hepta-beta-glucoside elicitor exists in soybean membranes. Plant Cell 3:137-147.

SOURCE Kemin Industries