Nufarm strengthens relationship with CROP.ZONE

Australian crop protection and specialty seed company Nufarm announced it has converted its existing financial investment in agtech start-up CROP.ZONE to an equity holding.

CROP.ZONE is a German-based agtech company that has developed hybrid-electric weed control solutions to reduce chemical application rates and residues by using a conductive liquid and electrical voltage to control weeds and desiccate crops.

Nufarm Regional General Manager EuMEA, Hildo Brilleman, said the investment will strengthen the relationship and co-operation between the two companies and build on Nufarm’s expanding portfolio of alternative solutions for farmers. “We are committed to helping farmers produce their crop economically but also reduce the impact of agriculture on our environment and this is a logical addition to our NuBio portfolio. We launched this new technology jointly with CROP.ZONE under the NUCROP^™ brand in September last year, making it available to potato growers for desiccation for the first time this season.”

Dirk Vandenhirtz, CEO at CROP.ZONE adds, “NUCROP^™ offers farmers and contractors a real alternative to chemical and mechanical solutions at competitive prices, especially for those crops where chemical weed control options have been reduced and alternative technologies are required.”

The unique NUCROP^™ combination controls weeds efficiently with lower residues vs. chemical alternatives and better efficacy and crop safety vs. mechanical interventions. Application of the conductive liquid and actual weed-control with electrical current are carried out in a single pass.

In the 2021 Early-Adopter program, Nufarm and CROP.ZONE will team up with selected channel partners in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands as well as the UK to offer farmers and contractors access to NUCROP^™ technology, with a strong focus on potato desiccation. Other uses are in the trial phase and will be available to farmers shortly. For more information about NUCROP^TM, please visit www.nufarm.com or www.crop.zone