Milliken & Company: Key Considerations for Developing Agrochemical Microencapsulation Formulations

AgroPages recently interviewed Ryan Michaud, Business Development Manager – Agriculture, Milliken & Company. In this interview, he shared his views on Milliken & Company's microencapsulation technology, key considerations for developing agrochemical microencapsulation formulation, the impact of EU's microplastics-free regulation on microencapsulation technology and more.

Ryan Michaud

Business Development Manager – Agriculture, Milliken & Company

Could you describe the application situation of the microcapsule technology in the agrochemical field? What are the biggest opportunities and challenges? What are the factors affecting its growth?

Microencapsulation, the process of putting a uniform polymeric shell around a core material at the micron level to create capsules, has been used in the agrochemical industry for several decades. Since its inception, it has been an important method for delivering pesticides, herbicides and other active ingredients (AI) into crop protection applications. Microencapsulation helps enhance worker safety, deliver controlled release for residual AI efficacy, and increase product stability and compatibility in tank mixes. Microencapsulation also addresses a critical market demand for sustainable solutions to mitigate environmental risks thanks to its ability to optimize the amount of and efficiently deliver substances. 

Could you briefly introduce Milliken & Company, its microencapsulation technology in the agrochemical field, global presence and core strengths? What is the business model?

Milliken & Company is a material science expert and global manufacturer producing a diversified portfolio of textile, chemical, floor coverings, and healthcare solutions. In October 2021, Milliken acquired Encapsys, the world’s largest independent chemical microencapsulation company. Encapsys traces its lineage back to the 1950s and the advent of microencapsulation with the National Cash Register for carbonless copy paper applications. Since then, Encapsys has grown into several markets, including agriculture.  Through its Encapsys technology, Milliken harnesses cutting-edge research and development to deliver value-added microencapsulation in both traditional and innovative applications. For agricultural applications, we offer several biodegradable solutions that meet the pending microplastic regulations in Europe, positioning Milliken to be a key partner for domestic and international crop protection needs.

Microcapsule formulation is one of the fastest-growing formulation types in recent years. What are the key considerations and challenges&solutions for developing microencapsulation formulation? Could you share some successful cases of how your company helps clients develop microencapsulation formulations based on different scenarios.

Agricultural encapsulation solutions today need to deliver excellent crop control performance by having predictable release rates with stable formulation and storage characteristics. In addition to performance, emerging regulations are emphasizing a need for agricultural encapsulation solutions to have a shell that is degradable. Combining performance and sustainability into a formulation can be challenging and encapsulation companies need to have the ability to scale these solutions commercially.   

Across Milliken, our teams excel at partnering with our customers to simultaneously deliver innovative solutions with sustainability, performance and commercialization considerations like these at the forefront. Using our extensive experience in delivering customer-centric, tailored solutions to meet market needs and drive performance, Milliken works with customer product specifications and technical AI requirements to yield the best results. Our scale from lab bench to commercial operations enables us to work within a variety of situations, ranging from toll manufacturing to mid-term new product development to long-term technology development partners.

What impacts does the EU's microplastics-free regulation have on your company’s microencapsulation business? What solutions were introduced in response to the impacts？

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s microplastics-free regulation is the type of situation where Milliken thrives. Drawing on our long-held values of sustainability and innovation, we saw an opportunity to deliver new agricultural microencapsulation solutions that create value for customers. We have been active in research and technology development for several years, resulting in several options that offer degradability and performance to the market for the first time. The technology platforms we have under development meet the proposed regulatory requirements. Several projects are entering application development, and we continue to field inquiries from additional interested parties. Moreover, these types of solutions align with Milliken’s Sustainability Goals, which guide our work with people, products and the planet to ensure we make a positive impact that will last for generations. 

What’s the development plan on the microencapsulation business and agrochemical business?

Milliken continues to invest in agrochemical microencapsulation as part of its broader strategic plan to be a solution provider for the industry. We are focused on delivering the next generation of microcapsules that account for degradability. 

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. Explore its portfolio with applications across the textile, specialty chemical, flooring and healthcare businesses at Milliken.com.

This article was published in AgroPages '2023 Formulation & Adjuvant Technology ' magazine published this May.

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