Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. : CRAiLAR Flax Fiber Producers Contract Willamette Valley Advisor
02/21/2012| 10:25am US/Eastern
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Ralph Fisher, Veteran Ag Expert, to Work With NAT
PORTLAND, OR, Feb. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.
(NAT) (OTCBB: NADVF) (TSXV: NAT), which produces and markets CRAiLAR®,
a natural fiber made from flax and other bast fibers, announced today
it has secured the services of Ralph Fisher, located in Salem, Ore., as
a regional agronomic advisor to the company. In this capacity, Fisher
will work with NAT to help contract planted acres of flax in Oregon. He
will also work closely with NAT and Oregon State University (OSU) to
evaluate strains, growth cycles and techniques that ensure the greatest
yields in the region. Fisher, who obtained his B.S. in Crop Science
from OSU in 1978, begins his work with the company immediately, with a
focus on the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons.
"The demand for CRAiLAR Flax fiber has been established through our
partnerships with Hanes, Levi's, Carhartt, Target, and other global
brands," said Jay Nalbach, Chief Marketing Officer of NAT. "Oregon's
history in the flax industry, combined with the presence of our U.S.
operations in Portland, made it a logical choice to explore the
Willamette Valley as our second major growing region. As we did,
Ralph's name came up at every single meeting, often multiple times.
Once we met in person and worked on a few projects together, this
decision was very easy to make."
NAT began exploring flax growing in the region in September 2011. This
was shortly followed by an introduction to the Oregon Rye Grass Seed
Growers Commission, the Oregon Seed Growers League, and others
representing the fourth largest export, grass seed, from the state. A
native Oregonian and 30-year veteran of the grass seed industry, Fisher
has a long history of involvement in governance and economic
development in the region, including past chairmanships of both the
Oregon Seed Council and the Oregon Seed Growers League.
"I was originally attracted to the story of NAT's CRAiLAR Flax fiber
based on its ability to be worked into a grower's calendar year as a
rotation crop," said Fisher. "Risk management is a critical need in the
Willamette Valley, and one that I have taken a great deal of interest
in, but NAT brings a lot more to the table than that. Both the partner
brands that have helped them establish demand, and the terms of their
grower contracts, which are exceptional, make this one of the most
promising new opportunities the region has seen in years."
Fisher has been in the Oregon agricultural industry his entire career.
His own farming experience includes fine fescue, perennial rye grass,
bent grass and livestock. In addition to grower contracts, he will help
to evaluate crop diversity, productivity and sustainability.
About Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.
Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc. develops renewable and
environmentally sustainable biomass resources from flax, hemp and other
bast fibers. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, CRAiLAR®
Fiber Technologies Inc., has developed proprietary technologies for
production of bast fibers, cellulose pulp, and their resulting
by-products in collaboration with Canada's National Research Council.
CRAiLAR technology offers cost-effective and environmentally
sustainable processing and production of natural, bast fibers resulting
in increased performance characteristics for use in textile,
industrial, energy, medical and composite material applications. The
Company was founded in 1998 as a provider of environmentally friendly,
socially responsible clothing. For more information, visit www.naturallyadvanced.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Forward-Looking Statement DisclaimerThis news release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements". All statements in this news release,
other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a
variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or
results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking
statements or information and including, without limitation, risks and
uncertainties relating to: any market interruptions that may delay the
trading of the Company's shares, technological and operational
challenges, needs for additional capital, changes in consumer
preferences, market acceptance and technological changes, dependence on
manufacturing and material supplies providers, international
operations, competition, regulatory restrictions and the loss of key
employees. In addition, the Company's business and operations are
subject to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Form 10-K,
Form 10-Q and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at www.sec.gov. These are among the primary risks we foresee at the present time. The
Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE Naturally Advanced Technologies Inc.
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