(Sharecast News) - Remineraliser producer Harvest Minerals announced the initial results of long-term trials on the effectiveness of its 'KPFértil' product on coffee plants, compared to conventional chemical fertiliser.
The AIM-traded firm said the initial results showed KPFértil was superior to conventional fertilisers, with key biometric measurements taken after the first six and 12 months.

It said at six months, with the exception of stalk diameter, all biometric measurements showed superior results when KPFértil was used over conventional fertilisers.

At 12 months, all biometric measurements showed superior results when KPFértil was applied,, despite additional phosphate being added to the conventional treatment after the first six months.

It explained that the trials were being conducted by the Associação dos Cafeicultores de Araguari (ACA) in Brazil.

"Since we conducted our first agronomic studies in 2016, our knowledge of the application and potential of KPFértil has grown exponentially," said Harvest Minerals executive chairman Brian McMaster.

"These latest results, which are part of a wider programme of long-term agronomic studies, show what we have long suspected - that KPFértil is superior to conventional fertilisers for coffee.

"Additionally, we have been working with several large coffee grower customers around testing the benefits of KPFértil through composting with organic waste and manure to promote the growth of natural bacteria, crucial in good soil development."

McMaster said those tests were producing "exciting" results, which the company would release in due course.

"Much of the development and testing work which commenced several years ago is coming home to prove the importance of KPFértil, which is very timely to aid our marketing initiatives as we continue to build our business.

"We have always said that Harvest has the right commodity, in the right place and at the right time; this has proven to be highly prophetic."