Sam Rivers, ICL’s Technical Manager for Controls, together with Technical Area Sales Managers Steve Chapman, Carl Mason and Peter Robinson have all passed the BASIS exam joining the BASIS Professional Register.
“As a supplier of industry leading technologies and products to the horticultural market, ICL firmly believes in backing up its products with the highest quality technical advice,” says Sales Manager Adrian Thirtle-Watts. “Our investment in recruiting, training and developing the best talent available ensures customers have access to the highest level of technical support to maximise the benefits of using ICL products.
“Investment is only one step in this journey; all four put in a huge amount of work and effort to pass this qualification, while maintaining their day-to-day jobs in what was a particularly challenging year. I would like to congratulate them all and wish them every success in their future careers with ICL.
“A rigorous and highly effective industry self-regulation scheme, BASIS demonstrates professional competency and up-to-date expertise in the rapidly changing and technically demanding area of pesticides. Only advisers with this qualification can legally advise growers on the full range of crop protection products.“
As part of the BASIS course, all four completed useful projects – shedding light on improvements for pest, disease and weed challenges currently facing the industry.
Sam Rivers set out to evaluate the novel microbial product ‘Contribute SR’ – with regards to Pythium spp control and any additional beneficial outcomes – compared to three commercial bio-fungicides. “Contribute SR showed signs of Pythium spp. control as well as improved root and shoot growth,” he says. “Benefits that could provide another sustainable level of protection in biocontrol programmes.”
Steve Chapman (South-East) explored the potential for ICL’s water conditioner ‘NupHix’ to reduce the impact of hard water on glyphosate herbicide. “The high levels of calcium and magnesium ions in hard water bind with glyphosate reducing its efficacy. The project compared a branded and generic glyphosate product to demonstrate the potential for NupHix to lower glyphosate application rates while maintaining the desired level of control.”
Carl Mason (East Midlands and Yorkshire) evaluated the impact of the biostimulant product Vitalnova Prime on reducing reliance on chemistry in a crop and sought to identify any additional benefits.
Meanwhile Peter Robinson (North-West), explored the disinfection of irrigation water to minimise damaging pathogens, primarily root rots. His project explored the impact of using a glass filled media filtration system, prior to a hydrogen peroxide dosing unit.
Picture caption: (L-R) Sam Rivers, Steve Chapman, Carl Mason & Peter Robinson