Verdant Granted European Patent for Electrostatic Printing of PGRs
Verdant Technologies recently announced that the European Patent Office had granted the company a patent (Patent No. 15 735 823.5-1107) for the electrostatic printing process, or photocopy process, used in their plant growth regulator technology HarvestHold.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Verdant two patents for its 1-MCP electrostatic printing press technology in 2016 and 2019. The addition of the EPO patent signals a milestone in protecting the company’s postharvest plant life extension delivery technologies as Verdant’s HarvestHold technology enters the global market.
“With the issuance of the EU patent, we continue to build a deeper and wider moat, protecting our proprietary technology and delivery method around the world,” said Gordon Robertson, president of Verdant Technologies. “It also demonstrates a commitment to continued innovation. Verdant started with a deep desire to create technology-based solutions for a greater good, helping fresh products reach consumers with enhanced life span and quality, and reducing food and floral waste.”
Verdant Technologies owns a variety of patents focused on fruit, vegetable and floral freshness and life extension. Many of the company’s technologies use 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a PGR used in fresh produce and florals. 1-MCP inhibits the plant hormone ethylene, which initiates ripening in plants after harvest, significantly extending product life and improving quality.
“This is an important new way to deliver our proprietary formula to packaging materials,” said Jon Fobes, chief technology and scientific officer. “We have previously secured patents around flexographic printing which will be used in most instances, but this patent with electrostatic printing gives us an alternative printing process to supply products tailored to the needs of our customers.”
Verdant’s technology is activated by natural plant humidity, making it a storable, portable and reliable product life extension solution that can be utilized throughout the supply chain. HarvestHold, Verdant’s produce and floral life extension technology, will be available in early 2021.
For more information, visit www.verdant-tech.com.
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