Melbourne, Australia:  Nufarm Australia (ASX:NUF) and Starpharma Holdings Ltd (ASX:SPL; OTCQX:SPHRY) today announced the signing of an agreement under which the parties will apply Starpharma’s Priostar^® dendrimer technology to develop innovative crop protection formulations for Nufarm’s product portfolio.

“We are very pleased to be working with Nufarm in this way,” commented Dr Jackie Fairley, CEO Starpharma. “This agreement builds on previous collaboration between the companies and we are excited about the opportunity to work with Nufarm to develop innovative and improved products.”

 “This collaboration with Starpharma reflects Nufarm’s renewed emphasis on technological innovation,” said Lachlan McKinnon, Nufarm Australia's General Manager.  “We are seeking innovative ways to differentiate our products so that growers are offered a wider range of control options tailored to their particular needs.”

Starpharma’s Priostar^® dendrimer technology has wide applicability in the agrochemical sector.  Through its own internal research program Starpharma has previously established that potential benefits of dendrimer to agrochemical formulators and end-user growers include:

• More concentrated formulations to reduce transport costs;
• Reduction in solvent loading;
• Improved overall activity; and
• Increased adhesion, to reduce losses due to rain run-off, and the need for multiple applications.

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed due to commercial confidentiality restrictions.

Starpharma and Nufarm sign crop protection agreement ( pdf file, 108kb)