Does Your Seed Speak to The Customer?

The seed industry is more competitive than ever, with companies seeking better options to address challenges around identification, the creation of seed brand value, safety, and inventory identification. Superior color and coating solutions can be the answer.

“Seed is expensive, and it continues to increase in value year-after-year.  All seed treated with a biological or chemical pesticide must be color treated. Why not make color work for you?” asks Mark Self, market manager for Special Applications Clariant.

Ensuring Seeds Grow, With Environmental Safety

Seed companies are concerned about the potential impact that any additive to the seed may have on plant germination and growth, as well as about potential dust exposure from treated seed. Clariant’s Agrocer^® products go through rigorous testing for just these reasons, across combinations of polymers, colorants and active ingredients to replicate field conditions.  Formulations are carefully optimized and tested to ensure crop safety, and that active ingredients remain on the seed.

Show Your Traits, And Quality…Uniquely

Seed treatments are often similar shades of red, blue, or green. They can be better….and they can stand out. Clariant continues their innovative path by obtaining global regulatory approval for a new range of colors such as Agrocer Pigment Yellow 001 and Pigment Red 112, making essentially any look possible. “Our broad range of colors allows customers to brand their seed products safely, with compliance and reliability, globally.” says Mark Self. Clariant technical experts can custom create your individual look easily for big impact. Agrocer dispersions are formulated with a high pigment load, which means that volume for volume, their color, coating and gloss will go further. An outstanding visual seed appearance projects quality and reflects the hard work your company has put into each seed.

Stand Out…. Make Varieties Obvious and on Brand

Agrocer can help differentiate your brand, making each seed variety instantly recognizable and, more importantly, distinguishable.  Create a look that has instant visual recognition and exudes quality for every product in your lineup. “Every variety, even specific traits can be identifiable by a unique look. Companies can use specific color and coating finishes to identify and brand their seed, visualize the safety and value of a treatment immediately, highlight traits or emphasize special handling requirements.  A well formulated seed coating is an important tool in projecting value and brand recognition.” Mark Self concludes.

To learn more about Clariant and Agrocer seed coloration, visit www.clariant.com/agrocer or contact Kevin Brost at 406-204-4404 or kevin.brost@standardcolors.com

Kevin Brost has many years of experience establishing and growing business with seed, seed protection and seed coloring/coating technologies globally. His experience includes leading innovation, IP, commercialization and market growth in a wide variety of crops and markets around the world with chemical and biological technologies.

This article was initially published in AgroPages's '2021 Seed Treatment Special' magazine.