2023 FAT successfully held: Probing "innovative technology," "innovative vane" of agrochemical formulation industry chain

From November 29 to 30, 2023, the fourth Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2023), hosted by AgroPages, was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The conference attracted the presence of more than 300 local and foreign delegates from more than 170 companies from around the world. The event was sponsored by Nantong Deyi Chemical, Dow Chemical, Netzsch (Shanghai), SINVOCHEM, Guangzhou FTRT Chemical, Zhejiang Runhe, LEVACO Chemicals, Xian Tbio Crop Science, Shandong Pengbo Biotechnology, Ginyungton Soilcare New Materials, Shuangying New Material, Guangzhou Ruiyue Trading, Long Yeast Science, Hongru Intelligence and Pengze Technology.

FAT 2023 was held under the theme, ″Leading Technology Innovation and Creating Brand Image,″ and AgroPages specially invited 32 global industry experts as special guests to share their views on forward-looking and practical innovative formulation technologies, adjuvant technologies, application technologies, challenges to formula design, scenario-based solutions, intelligent formulation development and manufacturing, followed by extensive exchanges and discussions on promising seed treatment technologies, biologicals, nano-pesticide and precision application, with the aim of reshaping the global vision, enhancing the value of the agrochemical formulation industry, and jointly promoting the green and sustainable development of the formulation industry.

Industry Dynamics & Scenario-based Solutions

Eva Hoo, CEO of AgroPages 

″Technology development in the industry has not been directional from the beginning, but it is based on moves to different directions by a group of people who jointly explore, constantly try and accumulate technologies, therefore, achieving a beneficial result,″ said Eva Hoo, CEO of AgroPages, in her opening address at FAT 2023. she then gave an opening report, titled, ″Global Innovation Observation in Agrochemical Formulation and Application Technologies,″ which states that the world is currently facing severe challenges in feeding the growing population. As a key input for food security, technical innovation in the agrochemical industry must be continue to reduce the use of pesticides and increase efficiency towards the objective of sustainable development, as well as adapt to new challenges in agricultural development. Hoo highlighted detailed data to analyze and categorize innovative international products and technologies launched by prime agrochemical enterprises in recent years, which address issues like pesticide resistance, reducing the use of pesticides and increasing efficiency, as well as their environmental impact. These innovations cover multiple dimensions, such as formula design, formulation type and digitalization, which show the trend of rapid industry development towards the establishment of a technical platform, which will improve application scenarios and achieve the digitalization of industry operations. The report stressed that innovation in formulation technology should be closely aligned with the actual needs and pain points of the agricultural industry. The report concluded that only by adhering to demand requirements, embracing new technologies and responding to industry changes in a timely manner can agrochemical formulation enterprises gain advantages in a highly competitive market, without losing business opportunities.

Ju Yuhong, Director of Formulation R & D at Anhui Huaxing Chemical Industry

From a product development perspective, Ju Yuhong, Chief Formulation Technical Officer of Huaxing Chemical, Qilu Pharmaceuticals, shared her views on the challenges and solutions related to the development of novel, safe and efficient agrochemical formulations. Ju said that the development of novel green pesticide products is, in general, an issue of safety and efficiency. In addition, full consideration should be given to the issue of efficacy (high activity and low dosage and high selectivity, distribution/adhesion/retention, wetting/lasting/ingression), as well as the selection of active ingredients, the optimization of formulation adjuvant, the formulation of manufacturing technologies and overall component management. After a formula is determined, how can it be applied to related scenarios? How do you maximize its efficacy? This should be an important consideration during product development in the laboratory and formula design stages. In her report, Ju also shared case studies on how to innovate formulations through the selection of raw materials and adjuvants using Qilu’s development of different formulations of spinosad and abamectin, as examples.

Wang Zhidong, Chief Formulation Engineer of Rainbow 

Today, the iterative evolution and application of scenario-based pesticide formulation technologies have become increasingly mature. Wang Zhidong, Chief Formulation Engineer of Rainbow, spoke about scenario-driven pesticide formulation technologies. He said that the continuous rise in the global population and decrease in available land are important drivers to the development of pesticide formulation technology, while climate change and increasingly strict regulations are also guiding the pesticide industry to reduce the use of pesticides and increase efficiency. He believes that formulation technology platforms have become a starting point for the development of more and more products, while the use of environmentally-friendly formulations, such as suspensions and microcapsules, are growing rapidly. His report is focused on several case studies to illustrate the innovative development of scenario-driven formulation technologies, such as the low-toxic carbofuran microcapsule formulation for lawn application, BASF’s pyraclostrobin microcapsule suspension product Daoqing and pretilachlor microcapsule suspension, and ADAMA’s TOV^® oil-based formulation technology platform. Wang stressed that during a time with the reduced use of pesticides and the promotion of precision applications, formulation technology and application scenarios will be integrated more closely. A scenario-based formula design will enable differentiated product development, which will help enterprises capture greater market share in the generic product market.

Lu Yuejian, R&D Director of BASF (China)

Lu Yuejian, R&D Director of BASF (China) Agricultural Solutions Division, delivered a report, titled, ″Fungicide iterative upgrading ideas and innovative strategies,″ and shared BASF’s fungicide product deployment and innovative ideas. As a global chemical industry leader, BASF has always considered innovation as the key driver of its corporate development. Lu said that BASF spends up to €2.3 billion annually in research and development, of which 41% is used in the development of agricultural solutions, therefore, ensuring the continuous innovation of BASF’s fungicide product line. The report gave a detailed introduction to the major principles of BASF’s fungicide product deployment, covering key crop markets, such as soybean and corn, where efforts are being made to expand the control spectrum, select differentiated mechanisms of action, improve resistance management, and control production costs. Lastly, Lu Yuejian predicted the opportunities and challenges to the innovative development of fungicides. He believes that new technologies bring opportunities for discovering innovative mechanisms, but increasing resistance causes difficulty in terms of innovation. He called for further collaborations to jointly promote the innovative and sustainable development of the fungicide industry.

Yuan Zhihua, Technical Manager of Jiangyin Suli Chemical

The report by Yuan Zhihua, Dep Technical Director of Suli Chemical, was titled, ″Establishing a scientific quality evaluation system to promote the quality and efficiency improvement of agrochemicals.″ Yuan explained, in detail, the experience of Suli Chemical in establishing a quality evaluation system that covers procurement, research and development, production and testing. He said that Suli Chemical has always adhered to the policy of ″quality first,″ and has established various quality evaluation systems, which are being continuously improved and optimized, ensuring that its products are highly regarded by customers. Yuan stressed that enterprises should establish a user-centric quality concept to manage quality throughout the course of production. It is important to work together to improve quality and efficiency in agricultural formulations, which is key to achieving improved product quality.

Li Zhigang, Key Account Director of FMC

Li Zhigang, Key Account Director of FMC, presented the topic, ″New Idea for Cross Cultural Strategic Cooperation,″ which explores new ideas for strategic cooperation between multinational and local enterprises. He said that cooperation between multinational enterprises and local enterprises leads to resource sharing, market expansion, technological innovation and an increase in market share. However, during their cooperation, multinationals will consider whether the business and strategic goals of both sides match each other, as well as the credibility, compliance and culture of partners, as this is important to achieving a long-term and win-win cooperation. The presentation used chlorantraniliprole as an example to analyze the ideas and experiences of FMC in licensing this type of novel insecticide compound, and showed how FMC has guided the differentiated development of chlorantraniliprole formulations, with a focus on the innovation of formula design and the development of formulation technology while exploring market opportunities in new market segments, such as pesticide-fertilizer integration, soil insect control, novel product varieties and new industry sectors. Lastly, Li stressed that there will be more opportunities for cooperation between multinational enterprises and local enterprises covering new compounds, patents, technicals, formulations and brand development. This is the trend of future cooperation on a win-win basis, to the benefit of mutual complementarity. 

Innovative Formulation 

Andrew Goldsmith, Formulation Development Expert of Battelle

Dominik Reinhard, European Head of Commercial Sales, Crop Protection Division of Battelle

Andrew Goldsmith, Formulation Development Expert of Battelle, and Dominik Reinhard, European Head of Commercial Sales, Crop Protection Division of Battelle, showcased their company’s innovative technology, ″Banyan″, a co-development with Mitsui AgriScience International. 

The technology enables the development of chemically stable and highly effective formulations of Sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides, through the addition of inorganic and organic lithium stabilizers, which effectively inhibit the hydrolytic degradation of Sulfonylureas in storage or during use. Therefore, soluble liquids can be made. According to tests, 20-plus SU’s are above 95% stable. In his presentation, Reinhard said that Banyan fully unlocks new product possibilities with advanced, stable and highly effective liquid SU herbicides, making formulations combining SU’s and other herbicides possible, revealing a great future market prospect.

Wojciech Babski, Head of the AGRO Business Unit at CIECH Group

Wojciech Babski, Head of the AGRO Business Unit at CIECH Group, presented a novel glyphosate, Halvetic, which is considered a major breakthrough in the kore 40-year development of glyphosate. The distinctive feature of this product is that it maintains the same performance at 50% lower glyphosate rate per hectare compared with market standards, which is attributable to the BGT technology, which is a novel and breakthrough technology. Halvetic had distinctive characteristics. Firstly, it is not affected by water hardness and pH variation; secondly, it is based on novel adjuvants; and thirdly, it has little environmental impact, being safe for use. Halvetic has been registered in more than 10 countries in Europe, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria in Southern Europe; Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary in Central Europe; as well as the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The regions where it is undergoing registration include Scandinavia, Germany and the United Kingdom. It has also been registered in the United States and Australia, and its registration is currently being processed in Argentina and Brazil. In territories where it is being sold, customers are happy with the product and repeatedly using it year after year. Currently, the company is looking for distribution partners to commercialize the product in relevant regions. The company said that BGT technology has a broad application prospect, which is an example of novel agriculture using conventional chemistry to support sustainable agricultural development.

Innovative Adjuvant 

Chen Jitao, Technical Manager of Dow Chemical

The sustainable development strategy for agrochemical formulations has promoted the upgrading of many aqueous formulation products, among which suspension concentrate accounts for the largest share in the aqueous formula system. Chen Jitao, Technical Manager of Dow Chemical, shared the idea of developing dispersants for aqueous suspension formulations. Chen pointed out that dispersants are crucial for the stability of aqueous suspensions. Dow can determine the optimal matching relationship between dispersants and pesticide technicals via fast and stable high-throughput evaluation and full formula validation, therefore, designing and developing dispersants with better performance. In addition, Chen announced the upcoming market launch of Dow’s two new generation dispersants, POWERBLOXTM D-737/D-787 suspension dispersants. These two products fulfill dispersion stability requirements in aqueous suspension formulations, being a differentiated formula product that is compatible with formulations.

Dr. Jan Porada, Technical Sales Manager for Agro Solutions at LEVACO Chemicals

Dr. Jan H. Porada, Technical Sales Manager of Levaco Agricultural Solutions, delivered a report, titled, ″Special co-dispersant for high load or inorganics SC and novel penetration enhancers.″ Porada explained the challenges facing the development of aqueous suspension formulations, such as the issues of crystal growth and varying storage stability of water-soluble active ingredients. To solve these problems, he proposed the optimization of formulas via the fast prescreening method. LUCRAMUL^® AG 497, a high-performance co-dispersant developed by Levaco Chemicals, is a high-efficient co-dispersant and crystal growth inhibitor for use in high content SC, having excellent water dispersibility and storage stability. Porada added that permeability is a key factor that allows active substances to ingress into the plant body, stressing the importance of permeability to pesticide efficacy. Levaco Chemicals focuses on the development of permeative synergist, where the product, LUCRAMUL^® AG 104&108, showed high permeability during testing.  

Dr. James Qin, CTO & Founder of SINVOCHEM

Dr. James Qin, CTO & Founder of SINVOCHEM, gave an in-depth analysis of the challenges to the multi-scenario pesticide formulation development process, having proposed counter measures based on SINVOCHEM’s technology gained from testing platform establishment over the four stages of dispersion, spacing, interfacing and delivery. He said that SINVOCHEM has established several key technology platforms using data-driven methods to quantitatively characterize pesticide losses in each process, to improve pesticide delivery efficiency and explore the correlations between adjuvants and pesticides. The presentation listed the difficulties facing formulation development under typical scenarios and proposed targeted solutions, such as polymer adjuvant structure-activity relationship design, macromolecule anchoring to achieve stable dispersion, and surfactant interface control to regulate the high deposit rate. Qin said that data-driven modeling is an important tool for future formulation development, so SINVOCHEM is prepared to continue building a more complete and accurate testing and evaluation system. He also called on industry practitioners to strengthen their cooperation in the joint research and development of efficient and accurate pesticide delivery technologies and new functional adjuvants, to make the most of the efficacy of pesticides.

Yuliang Wang, Global Technical Director for Agricultural Chemicals at Innospec Performance Chemicals

In recent years, OD formulations have attracted more and more attention, especially in the Chinese market, but technical challenges also exist, such as unsatisfactory stability and difficulty in dispersion. Yuliang Wang, Global Technical Director for Agricultural Chemicals at Innospec Performance Chemicals, shared the company’s experience in the application of OD formulations in crop protection, giving a detailed introduction to OD formulation basics, applications and challenges. He also presented Innospec’s solutions in this field, as it has developed multiple patented products by selecting appropriate surfactants and rheological modifiers, which can effectively increase the storage stability and dispersion effect of OD formulations. Yuliang concluded that despite all the challenges, OD formulations are an important option for carrying pesticides with broad application prospects.

Dr. Owen Hoffart, Regulatory Project Manager of EAR (Eurofins Agroscience Regulatory)

Dr. Owen Hoffart, Regulatory Project Manager of EAR (Eurofins Agroscience Regulatory), shared the latest global adjuvant regulatory policies and their impact on formulation development, and made suggestions for formulation development. The presentation firstly addressed several regulatory policies in the European Union (EU), including the REACH review, the potential PFAS restriction, the potential significant reduction in chemical pesticide use under SUR, the new CLP hazard classification and microplastic ban, and the far-reaching impact on the EU and global agrochemical industry. The presentation also discussed several new requirements for the EU’s regulation of co-formulants and adjuvants, including registering multiple sources of supply to increase flexibility of procurement, the regulatory authority’s requirement for providing full composition information on adjuvants, and precautions when using adjuvants that can be used as active substances. Dr. Hoffart said companies should take early action to address these new requirements, and shared the latest regulatory status of agrochemicals in other regions around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and the United States.

Zhong Li, Marketing Director of Guangzhou FTRT Chemical

Zhong Li, Marketing Director of Guangzhou FTRT Chemical, focused on the integrated development and application of plant-derived synergists. Zhong’s report introduced the new generation of plant-based polyhydric alcohol developed by Guangzhou FTRT Chemical and its properties in terms of wetting, spreadability, increased permeability, oil film sealing and chemical repellence. This series of products is a small molecule T-shaped surfactant synergist developed using a unique directional synthesis technology and biomimetic design concept. It can significantly improve the delivery and speed of penetration of pesticides into plants, therefore, achieving effective prevention and control. Test results showed that the plant-based polyhydric alcohol developed by Fangzhong Chemical had excellent performance in terms of safety, wetting, permeability, spreading, moisturizing and adhesion, with a significant synergistic effect in controlling thrips and red spider mites in crops, including cucumbers, beans, citrus and flowers.

Mou Haipeng, Manager of Agrochemical business at Zhejiang Runhe Chemical New Material

Mou Haipeng, Agrochemical Manager of Zhejiang Runhe Organosilicon New Materials Co., Ltd., delivered a report, titled, ″Application of organosilicon synergists in pesticide-resistant small insects.″ He conducted an in-depth analysis of the current agrochemical industry, explaining, in detail, the cutting-edge technology and innovative concept of Zhejiang Runhe. Starting with the disadvantages of agricultural adjuvants, he revealed the performance of the two latest safe and high-efficient organosilicon synergists, RH-288 and RH-SE249A, which were independently developed by Zhejiang Runhe as appropriate solutions to the difficulties facing product application. RH-288 has a high spreading capacity, relatively weak permeability and excellent safety for crops, and can quickly and efficiently control resistant insects, such as red spider and thrips. RH-SE249A is a novel organosilicon adjuvant resistant to acid, alkali and hydrolysis. The two products can be used alone or in combination with chemical pesticides to achieve a synergistic effect and reduce the cost of pesticide application. Mou said that in the future, Zhejiang Runhe will continue the development of innovative high-tech products and explore more possibilities for developing agricultural adjuvants, to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the agrochemical industry.

High-Efficient Development & Production 

Jim Bullock, Director & Co-founder of iFormulate Limited, UK

Jim Bullock, Director & Co-founder of iFormulate Limited, UK, gave a detailed introduction to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies used in the development of agrochemicals. He said that agrochemical formulators face seven major challenges, which are regulations and restrictions, sustainability, substitution, cost-performance, stability and robustness, innovation and complexity. Bullock then presented, in detail, the progress of global companies in formulation-oriented automation and AI applications, such as the investments of Syngenta, BASF and Dow in high throughput lab formulation robots, supercomputers, statistical design experiments and algorithm optimization. He stressed that these new technologies will offer many benefits to formulation research and development, including efficiency improvement, risk reduction and performance improvement, which will continue to develop rapidly in the future. Lastly, he stressed that iFormulate provides professional consulting and services in the field of formulation development, helping enterprises solve formulation challenges and achieve digital transformation.

Tan Haibo, Agrochemical Manager of Netzsch (Shanghai) Grinding & Dispersing 

Tan Haibo, Agrochemical Manager of Netzsch (Shanghai), talked about the application of dispersion technology in suspension agent processing, having analyzed the characteristics of different types of raw materials in the pre-dispersion process, as well as the working principles, advantages and limitations of various dispersion equipment. Tan pointed out that high-speed dispersers, colloid mills and stator rotor systems are currently the mainstream pre-dispersal equipment used in suspension agent production, but their applications are limited. For this reason, Netzsch launched a novel pre-mix equipment called ProPhi, which utilizes bead grinding and can efficiently process various raw materials, significantly shortening the process and reducing energy consumption. Through several case comparisons, it was proved that the ProPhi pr-mix technology can replace conventional pre-dispersion equipment and simplify the production process, which is a significant leap forward in the formulation process of suspension agents. Lastly, he called for more industry cooperation to jointly promote the upgrading and updating of technology and equipment in this field.

Seed Treatment 

Shi Weishan, Vice President of Jiangsu Aijin Group

How do formulators develop seed treatment technologies and product development systems? In his report, Shi Weishan, Vice President of Jiangsu Aijin Group, analyzed the technological advantages of seed treatment agents, which offer advanced plant protection, facilitate precise and efficient pesticide application, and have huge market potential. Shi explained the common issues affecting technology development and application, such as stability in the formula design, crop adaptability under different climate conditions, and farmers’ misuse during operation. In response to these issues, he proposed the creation of a systematic technology and product development system. Lastly, he shared a case study on the soybean seed treatment agent currently being developed by Aijin, which uses a ternary compound technology aimed at the prevention and control of soybean root rot. The technology was developed after a systematic kinetic study and is being further optimized to China’s specific conditions, to enable it to adapt to different application scenarios and, therefore, solve common application pain points. 

Tang Haoping, Product Manager of Seed Coating Agent at Noposion Agrochemicals

Tang Haoping, Seed Coating Product Manager of Noposion, gave a presentation, titled, ″Challenges in rice seed treatment technology and solutions,″ which reviewed the development history of rice seed processing, and analyzed the current market potential of and existing issues facing rice seed coating agents. During the presentation, Tang said that the limited varieties of registrations and poor waterproofing of rice seed coating products are restraining promotion and application. He added that the structure of hybrid rice seeds also affects the efficacy of seed coating agents. For this reason, he stressed the need to develop seed coating products that are suitable for different varieties and regions, as solutions tailored to different rice seeds and regional characteristics will better leverage the function of seed coating agents in promoting healthy crop growth. Lastly, he predicted the future of the application of natural bird repellents, such as cinnamaldehyde, to rice seed coatings.

Biological Formulations 

Luo Sha, Manager of Product Development Deptartment, Syngenta

Luo Sha, Product Development Manager of Syngenta, presented Syngenta’s soil health and rhizosphere management service. Luo said that based on the demands of the Chinese market, Syngenta launched its ″RootEco″ brand and solutions to soil health management. He explained that ″RootEco,″ through its regulation of microorganisms and physicochemical properties, improves the rhizosphere environment and increases crop yield and quality. In terms of business operations, Syngenta’s work plan is to assist farmers in diagnosing and treating soil diseases through sample testing and the formulation of prescriptions, therefore, becoming a trustworthy soil solution provider.

Zhang Yafeng, Technical Director of Acadian Plant Health Asia Pacific

Zhang Yafeng, Technical Director of Acadian Plant Health Asia Pacific, conducted a presentation, titled, ″Application and case sharing of Ascophyllum nodosum extract and its combined use with fertilizers or pesticides.″ Zhang first gave an in-depth analysis of current and future challenges facing agriculture. Subsequently, market demand for biostimulants is rapidly increasing, as it is a green agricultural input. Among biostimulants, seaweed extract, which is represented by ascophyllum extract, has enormous growth potential. The presentation gave a detailed introduction of the growth environment and the unique properties of ascophyllum, as well as Acadian’s leading global position in sustainable resource management. She also specifically spoke about the types, uses and precautions covering the seaweed extract-based commercial products developed by the company. Lastly, Zhang stressed that ascophyllum extract can promote root growth, improve resistance and perform well when mixed with common pesticides and fertilizers, effectively supporting the sustainable development of agriculture.

Tong Leiting, Head of Domestic Industrial Products Department at Xian Tbio Crop Science 

Tong Leiting, Industrial Product Director of Tbio Cropp Science, delivered a report, titled, ″Synergy between specific peptides and pesticides,″ which explained the stress resistance mechanism of Tbio’s polypeptide-based biostimulant, POLYCARE. The product can activate the expression of stress response genes in plants and improve autioxidant enzyme activities, to enhance the ability of crops to resist abiotic stress. To prove this ability, she presented the physiological indicators of various crops treated by POLYCARE under simulated stress conditions, such as high temperatures, low temperatures and drought. These results show that POLYCARE can significantly reduce damage to plants caused by different stresses, and can activate their immune and defense mechanism, generating a disease prevention effect. Lastly, Tong presented the testing results of the mixed use of POLYCARE with various common pesticides, confirming its good compatibility with insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Song Wenyong, Senior Agronomist & Director of Technology Extension at  Shandong Pengbo Biotechnology

Song Wenyong, Senior Agronomist & Director of Technology Extension at Shandong Pengbo Biotechnology, delivered a report, titled, ″Agricultural application scenarios and solutions for microbial source synergistic agents.″ Song used a yield increase experiment for arabidopsis and cucumber as an example to demonstrate the significant yield increase and growth promoting properties of the series of microbial biostimulant products developed by Pengbo Biological. In the report, Song highlighted the performance and other data on these products under eight major application scenarios, including seed coating, root knot inhibition, the promotion of ripening, disease control and herbicide safety. Lastly, he revealed information of two newly discovered active compounds, which are open for cooperation opportunities within the industry. Song said that Pengbo Biological has established a complete technical system covering the screening, evaluation and identification of microbial active ingredients, to serve the biological pesticide industry through industry-university-research cooperation, and contribute to the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture. 

Nordely Wright, Global Technology Characterization & Validation Manager of R&D Biocontrol & Adjuvants at Rovensa Next

Nordely Wright, Global Technical Characterization & Validation Manager, Biocontrol and Adjuvants at Rovensa Next, offered a detailed introduction to the company’s formulation technology for soil-applied biosolutions. Due to complex soil types, it is difficult for a single product to be adapted to different environments. Therefore, designing a composite formula is crucial to achieving expected functions while avoiding potentially negative effects. On this basis, the presentation introduced two innovative soil adjuvants developed by Rovensa Next. One is compatible with liquid fertilizers to improve soil water absorption, nutrient uptake and utilization efficiency, while the other enhances the lateral distribution of water and increases filtration rate. She showed multiple experimental images and data to justify the effectiveness of these two products. Wright said that the two products are commercially available and can be selected for application based on the characteristics of the soil environment. Rovensa Next will continue its focused development of novel and innovative soil adjuvants, to contribute to the transformation and sustainable development of agriculture.

Nano-Pesticides 

Du Fengpei, Professor of China Agricultural University

Du Fengpei, Professor of China Agricultural University, delivered a report, titled, ″Preparation methods for nanoinsecticides and industrialization practice.″ He first gave an analysis of the development trends of and the problems affecting the Chinese pesticide industry. Subsequently, he elaborated on the concepts, application advantages and research status of nano pesticides both at home and abroad. He also highlighted his team’s innovative achievements in nanopesticide carrier system development covering nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions and dispersible liquids, which enable the nano miniaturization of active ingredients and improve pesticide settling and adhesion. Lastly, Professor Du said the simplification of the nano pesticide process and greening of materials are key to industrialization. He wished for greater progress in China’s nano pesticide technology development through intensive future collaborations between the industry, universities and research institutions.

Li Yang, Senior Engineer at Synwill

Li Yang, Senior Engineer at Synwill, focused on the topic, ″Application-oriented nanopesticide technology and practice." He first gave an outline of the development process of pesticide formulations and introduced the common types of pesticide formulations, such as emulsions and suspensions, as well as the key role of ultra-fine grinding technology in formulations. Furthermore, Li explained the concept, characteristics and processing method of nano pesticide formulations, stating that certain gaps still exist in the supervision and setup of standards for nano pesticides both at home and abroad. On this basis, Li shared Synwill’s research results in the nano formulation of ivermectin, chlorantraniliprole and axine copier, which indicate that these nano pesticide formulations are significantly superior to common formulations in terms of improving efficacy and increasing stability. Lastly, Li said that Synwill has enhanced its basic capabilities for the industrialized nano formulation of pesticides, and aims to cooperate with partners in the advancement of equipment and technologies to jointly promote the development and application of nano pesticide formulations.

Precision Application Technology 

Nie Hongyuan, Senior Manager of DJI Agriculture

Nie Hongyuan, Senior Manager of DJI Agriculture, talked about the development and application of agricultural crop protection drones. He said that as an emerging industry, drone technology has developed rapidly over the past 10 years. Currently, China’s crop protection drones can cover 30% of the country’s cropping area, reaching some 2 billion mu of cropland, which is due to the application of large varieties of advanced technologies integrated with drones, such as precision spray systems and autonomous obstacle avoidance systems. However, drone operations also face regulatory restrictions and risks caused by non-standard operations. To better adapt to drone application requirements, pesticide companies must improve the performance of mixture products. Currently, the use of drones in new scenarios, such as fruit tree applications, is worth the attention. Overall, drone application is moving from the status of being an ″aerial application relying on crop protection″ to the new stage of ″crop protection relying on aerial application.″

Guilherme Sousa Alves, Pesticide Application Technology Researcher of Jacto Agricultural Machineries

Fabiano Griesang, Product Specialist in mounted boom sprayer of Jacto Agricultural Machineries

João Victor de Oliveira,  Product Specialist in self-propelled sprayer of Jacto Agricultural Machineries

Jacto, a Brazilian agricultural machinery manufacturer, showcased its latest solutions in the field of intelligent spray technology. Jacto launched multiple independent innovative technologies to achieve precise variable control during the spraying process, which effectively improves pesticide utilization and reduces environmental pollution. Jacto’s independently developed ″Jacto EKOS″ can, in real-time, detect the distribution of weeds in the field, and perform targeted spraying in weed-dense areas. According to tests, it can reduce pesticide use by 60%. The company’s flow control technology based on pulse width modulation (PWM), which achieves a duty cycle-based control, can effectively reduce pressure fluctuations during the spraying process, therefore, improving control of the droplet spectrum and reducing risks. In addition, Jacto demonstrated the application effect of its autonomous piloting and remote sensor monitoring technology which were applied to field operations. According to Jacto, the application of AI spray technology not only improves pesticide use efficiency and reduces pollution, but it also generates detailed spraying data to support future operations. Jacto’s digital AI applications enables it to take a leading position in precision agriculture.

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Reporting by Nino Wang, Longjian Huang