VTI - ASX Company Announcement THIS IS A PRIORITY ITEM 26 November 2002 Part 1/1 -------- VIROTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ----------------------------- HOMEX - Brisbane ------------------------- Develops new Phosphate Fertiliser Virotec International Ltd (ASX/AIM: VTI) is pleased to announce that scientists from the Company's ViroSoils Division, have developed and lodged a patent application for a new process that has the potential to add substantial value to the worldwide phosphate fertiliser industry. Virotec's proprietary process produces a highly efficient phosphate fertiliser ViroPhosphate (TM). Whilst ViroPhosphate (TM) facilitates the transfer of phosphorous to plants, it virtually eliminates phosphorous leachate production thereby minimising adverse environmental impacts of fertiliser usage. Executive Chairman Brian Sheeran expands, "From today, Virotec will be talking to fertiliser companies throughout the world. We believe our product is superior to all current phosphate fertilisers and we will be actively seeking established local and global partners for the commercialisation of ViroPhosphate (TM)." Current world demand for phosphate fertiliser exceeds 50 million tonnes per annum and this can only increase as the need to feed a growing world population further depletes nutrients in agricultural soils. However, phosphate leached from fertilised land is a major contributor to the environmental problem of eutrophication that often causes excessive weed growth and hazardous blue/green algal blooms in rivers and lakes. Scientific Director Professor McConchie explains, "Many research studies in Australia and elsewhere have shown that as much as 40% to 60% of all the phosphate fertiliser applied to farm land can be washed into nearby rivers. The amount of phosphorous washed from farm land into rivers and lakes will depend on many factors, however, laboratory tests on sandy soils show that superphosphate loss can be over 90% for a mere 500 mm of rainfall, whereas the loss of phosphorous from the same amount of ViroPhosphate (TM) is much less than 1% for the same rainfall. Furthermore, ViroPhosphate (TM) reduces soil acidity and it can greatly reduce, and sometimes almost prevent, the transfer of many potentially hazardous elements, including cadmium and uranium that are present in many conventional phosphate fertilisers, to plants and animals. Essentially, ViroPhosphate (TM) is good news for farmers and good news for the environment." ViroPhosphate (TM) is the second major product developed by Virotec's ViroSoils Division. The first product, ViroBind, is an environmentally safe, water insoluble additive used to treat acidic soils and to immobilise trace metals in contaminated soils so that they can't be easily leached out or taken up by plants. It also improves the geotechnical properties of the soil (particularly the rate of consolidation and the shear strength of the compacted material) and it ensures that the foundations of any structures built on the reclaimed land are protected from possible acid corrosion. For further information please contact Virotec on +617 5530 8014 or refer to www.virotec.com. ends - AAP
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