Research update

Micap plc announces a significant sales opportunity in food flavours, and successful results in independent proof of principle trials on the use of Micap encapsulated agrochemicals

Micap plc, the technology licensing company specialising in the microencapsulation of active ingredients in yeast cells, today announces significant developments in its food flavourings and agrochemical businesses.

Food flavourings: A major US condiments producer has placed an initial order for Micap encapsulated mustard for use in table sauces such as Horseradish. This is the first food-related order Micap has received. A number of other potential clients are currently evaluating samples of difficult to process flavours, such as garlic and capsicum, for various applications such as animal repellent products.

Certain liquid food flavours pose serious processing difficulties to manufacturers due to the volatility of the liquid and the risk of contamination of equipment and other foods. By encapsulating such strong, volatile flavours within a yeast cell the handling, processing and shelf life of a wide range of products can be vastly improved, as well as considerably enhancing flavour intensity.

Herbicides: Micap also announces the results of initial trials into the use of Micap technology to enhance the performance of herbicides, (agrochemicals for the control of weeds).

Harper Adams University College, a leading farming, agricultural and management studies university, has carried out independent studies showing that a Micap encapsulated herbicide was significantly more effective in controlling certain weeds affecting arable crops than a commercially available product, despite containing the same amount of active chemical. This result provides valuable information for Micap, and strengthens the Company’s position for developing relationships with agrochemical companies in the herbicide field, which had a global market value of around $13.5 billion in 2001.

Charles Murray, Trials Manager of Harper Adams said: “For the Micap encapsulated product to work as effectively as it did, with no formulation testing or development over and above the encapsulation process, is very encouraging”.

Dr Gordon Nelson, Technical Director of Micap plc said: “We are delighted with the outcome of these trials, which give us a unique offer for herbicide delivery and help us significantly improve the delivery of agrochemical compounds”.