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October 27, 2004 |
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Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. |
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Public Relations Office |
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Winners of This Year′s Technical Award Presented by the Japanese Society
for Chemical Regulation of Plants
Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Yaichi Kimura) and Seiwa Company, Limited (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Takehisa Ode) received this year′s Technical Award from the Japanese Society for Chemical Regulation of Plants. A brief outline is as follows.
1.Overview of the award
| Award name: |
Technical Award by the Japanese Society for Chemical
Regulation of Plants |
| Award topic: |
Technological development of 5-aminolevulinic acid for agricultural use |
| Reason for the award: |
This award is presented for outstanding research achievements in the technology of the chemical regulation of plants. Such achievements either have already been or are expected to be put into practical use. Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. and Seiwa Company, Limited have long been engaged in research to promote plant growth of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), and have successfully developed Pentakeep®-V (Registration number: 81522), the world′s first fertilizer to contain ALA. Accordingly, our research achievement was singled out for this award. |
| Award ceremony: |
At the 39th General Assembly held by the Japanese Society for Chemical Regulation of Plants (October 27th - 28th, Akita Prefectural University) |
2.Overview of Pentakeep®-V
ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) is one of the natural amino acids that constitute chlorophyll and heme, and our company has long been engaged in producing ALA and developing its uses. We have attained many patents in the area of agriculture for our findings regarding improvements of photosynthesis capabilities, salt tolerance, and cool weather resistance of plants to which ALA is applied. (The findings were selected as among the most notable inventions for the 1995 fiscal year by the Science and Technology Agency.)
Having jointly conducted research of ALA′s effects on plants, Cosmo Oil and Seiwa have successfully established methods to maximize the effectiveness of ALA. In 2001 Seiwa acquired fertilizer registration (Pentakeep®-V, Registration number: 81522), and made it available on the market. Pentakeep®-V is the world′s first fertilizer to contain ALA. Used in combination with a range of minerals, ALA enhances the fertilizer′s effectiveness in a variety of plants. Accordingly, the product is expected to promote plant growth, to improve quality, and to increase profit. Utilization of the Pentakeep®-V fertilizer has expanded into the area of greenhouse horticulture and the farming of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and ornamental plants. The product is particularly highly regarded by producers of tomatoes, cucumbers, cherries, and roses.
