Verde AgriTech Board Approves Accelerated Plan for District Scale Rare Earths Discovery

Two drill rigs turning, third expected end of October

Ionic clay confirmation and initial drill results expected in Q4 2025

Maiden MRE and PEA targeted in H1 2026

New rare earths project formally named

SINGAPORE, Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech Ltd. (TSX: NPK | OTCQX: VNPKF) ("Verde” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has concluded a detailed review of its recent new district-scale rare earths discovery (see press release dated October 6, 2025), alongside a review of ongoing fertilizer operations and feedback from management and shareholders. Following this assessment, the Board has approved an accelerated, cost-efficient development plan for this new project, officially named the Minas Americas Global Alliance rare earths project (the “Project”).

In addition, the Board has identified several project milestones and approved plans to finance near-term exploration plans, without compromising the Company’s low carbon specialty fertilizer business.

Upcoming Milestones for the Project

• Complete mobilization - third drill rig expected at site the week of October 20th
• Confirm ionic clay mineralization with summary of ionic adsorption diagnostics together with full leachate impurity and radiological screening (Q4 2025);
• Provide update on initial drilling (Q4 2025);
• Complete initial drilling and additional trenching; release assay results (Q4 2025);
• Release ANSTO recovery test (Q1 2026);
• Publish maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate (“MRE”)(Q1 2026); and
• Publish preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) to demonstrate economics (Mid 2026).
  

“Company owned rigs are now turning, with a third rig mobilizing shortly. Our in-house lab is fast tracking metallurgical testwork while leading external laboratories conduct independent validation,” commented Cristiano Veloso, Founder and CEO. “This is the same team that built and operated two mines and two industrial plants in the same region in Brazil—an execution advantage we intend to leverage. We expect to confirm the Project’s ionic clay mineralization and report initial drilling in Q4 2025, followed by a maiden mineral resource estimate and a Preliminary Economic Assessment in the first half of 2026. These programs are supported by our current liquidity—approximately $11.5 million in cash and receivables—and disciplined capital allocation. We will let the data lead and remain focused on creating value for our shareholders.”