Bee Vectoring Technology Successfully Demonstrated With Key US Strawberry Growers

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 16, 2016) - Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (the "Company" or "BVT") (TSX VENTURE:BEE) is pleased to provide a summary of independently verified results from six commercial demonstrations of its crop inoculation system carried out for leading US-based strawberry growers. Notably, trials were carried out in both indoor and open field settings.

Background

Commencing in December 2015, BVT, in conjunction with one of the largest global bee producers, started demonstrations of its crop inoculation system with leading strawberry growers in six US locations - two in North Carolina, two in South Carolina and two in Florida - in an effort to prove its viability, effectiveness and economic value to growers.

The Carolina demonstrations were all carried out within indoor hoop house growing environments, a growing segment of fruit production implemented to capitalize on lucrative demand for fruit during winter months. During peak winter season growers can realize USD$3 a pound at the peak and around USD$1 at low season.

The Florida demonstrations were carried out in an open field environment. This method of growing strawberries accounts for the bulk of acreage in the USA, estimated to be around 60,000 acres. These demonstrations were conducted in segregated plots using current fungicide programs and non-fungicide - BVT only - plots. All plots were planted with identical plant species and experienced identical weather conditions. Comparisons were therefore made against current processes under verifiable conditions.

Results

Yield and Plant Quality

The use of BVT products resulted in improvements to plant quality resulting in fewer diseases like Botrytis and anthracnose. BVT was found to typically save 15 fungicide sprayings in each site. Each spray has an approximate cost of USD$40/acre. Plots treated with the BVT system were found to have a 30+% higher fruit yield than those treated with fungicide. These findings were gathered by third-party personnel and were independently verified by plant pathologist, John Sutton, PhD whose full report on the BVT demonstration site results can be viewed here -