Plant Health Care
Americas
Holly Springs
,
United States
Established
FOUNDED
1995
HEADCOUNT
21-100
FUNDING
Public
Keywords:
fermentation, biostimulants, crop_protection, bacteria
BUSINESS
Plant Health Care is a developer of biological products for crop protection and biostimulation; in August 2024 the company was acquired by India's PI Industries Limited and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary. Commercial operations span the US, Brazil, Mexico, and Europe, with key products including Harpin αβ recombinant protein biostimulant (sold under multiple brands including Employ in the US), and PREtec peptide-based products: Saori (launched in Brazil 2021 with Nutrien for soybean rust), Obrona (launched US 2023 with Wilbur-Ellis for fungal disease), and Teikko (PHC949 bionematicide, Brazil launch 2024 soybean season)
BIOTECH INVOLVEMENT
Recombinant protein and peptide bioproduction is central to the business, with Harpin αβ produced via microbial fermentation (recombinant expression in E. coli is the disclosed platform) and PREtec peptides manufactured at a pilot plant facility in Seattle, Washington. The PREtec platform consists of designed peptides that mimic the active sites of naturally occurring harpin proteins to elicit plant defense responses
TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM
peptide technology; microbial inoculants
PRIMARY PRODUCTS
Biostimulants; biofungicides; mycorrhizal products