Agreva Sustainable Agriculture is pleased to welcome Parka, an innovative crop cuticle supplement developed by Cultiva.

Parka technology has been used across an extensive range of high-value crops internationally. Cultiva identifies applications in apples, blueberries, cherries, citrus, grapes, nuts, pears, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes, as well as new plantings. Additional programs include avocados, pomegranates, stone fruit, melons, leafy vegetables and brassicas.

Agreva has been entrusted with bringing Parka to Australian agriculture, adding another innovative technology to a portfolio focused on helping growers improve crop performance, quality and resilience.

Russell Fox remains a strong support to the Agreva team, actively involved in continuing the development of Parka in Australia and New Zealand.

Agreva focuses on providing premium, sustainable agricultural solutions that empower growers while supporting long-term environmental stewardship.

Through innovative products and science-led development, we aim to help growers produce healthier crops, improve marketable yields and build more resilient farming systems. Parka fits naturally within this philosophy, providing a novel approach to managing some of the environmental stresses that can compromise crop quality.

It all starts with the cuticle

The plant cuticle is the thin protective layer covering leaves, young shoots and fruit. Despite being microscopic, it represents an important first line of defence against environmental and physiological stresses.

Parka is a patented phospholipid-based crop cuticle supplement powered by Cultiva's proprietary SureSeal technology. Cultiva pioneered the concept of commercial crop cuticle care, with its technology originally developed in partnership with Oregon State University.

Rather than creating an opaque physical coating, Parka supplements the plant's existing cuticle with a clear, elastic, hydrophobic and permeable layer. It helps seal microfractures in the cuticle while repelling unwanted surface moisture. Importantly, the coating remains permeable, allowing normal transpiration and gas exchange to continue.

Parka's activity goes beyond physical protection. Cultiva reports that SureSeal technology also helps minimise the production of negative oxidative compounds, encourages antioxidant production and supports photosynthetic activity through increased stomatal activity and net CO₂ exchange.

Protection where it matters

For growers, these characteristics translate into several practical benefits. Parka can help reduce fruit cracking and splitting, reduce sunburn and heat-related stress, improve overall fruit quality and finish, support plants experiencing environmental stress, reduce culls and increase marketable yield, and provide a clear coating with no visible residue. It also allows continued transpiration and gas exchange and can integrate with existing spray programs through broad tank-mix compatibility.

The introduction of Parka represents an exciting addition to Agreva Sustainable Agriculture's growing portfolio. As Australian growers face increasingly challenging conditions, technologies that help crops better tolerate environmental stress while protecting quality and marketable yield have an important role to play.