Best Agrolife Ltd: Leading the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture Through Innovation and Technology

In the world of agriculture, where progress has traditionally been slow, the pace of change is accelerating rapidly today. This shift is driven by pressing challenges such as climate change, pest resistance, and the need for sustainable food production. Best Agrolife Ltd is at the forefront of this transformation, emerging as a dynamic force in the agrochemical industry. The company is not just addressing these critical issues but is also redefining the possibilities of modern farming through innovative solutions and technological advancements. Best Agrolife Ltd has made significant strides in integrating sustainability with agricultural innovation. 

Mr. Vimal Kumar, Managing Director of the company, emphasizes, "Our R&D efforts are increasingly focused on developing eco-friendly formulations that maintain efficacy while reducing environmental impact. This aligns with the global shift towards sustainable agricultural practices. Our research is directed towards addressing pest resistance through synergistic combinations ensuring that our products remain effective and relevant in an ever-evolving landscape."

Pioneering Innovation

Best Agrolife has grown into one of India’s most innovative agrochemical companies, reflected by its expanding patent portfolio and increasing market presence. The company’s product range, which includes specialty formulations, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators, reflects its ability to adapt to changing market demands. With a team of over 1,150 professionals and state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D facilities, Best Agrolife has firmly positioned itself as a leader in crop protection.

Best Agrolife is focused on newer classes of synthetic chemical pesticides that have reduced toxicity to non-target organisms and improved environmental profiles. These advanced crop protection methods, combined with sustainable agricultural practices, help increase crop yields while minimizing the impact on the environment and non-target species.

In the arena of crop protection, it is essential for organizations such as Best Agrolife to be at the forefront of advances in newer and safer techniques such as precision agriculture, which involves the use of technologies like GPS, drones, sensors and data analytics to apply pesticides and fertilizers precisely where needed. Such technologies reduce the pesticide use and consequently environmental impact. When coupled with Variable Rate Technology (VRT), the application of inputs such as pesticides is used in varying rates across the fields based on real-time data of pest pressure and/or crop conditions. VRT is supported with near and remote sensing by drones and LEO/MEO/GEO satellites equipped with multispectral cameras that can monitor crop health, identify pest outbreaks using sensors across the spectral range. Till now, these technologies were not widely adopted due to cost, availability, useability and implementation maturity. Best Agrolife is actively developing technologies to overcome the adoption challenges. 

The company has ongoing R&D in the area of Smart Pesticides. These are formulations designed to enhance the efficiency of active ingredients and reduce environmental drift or runoff. Nanotechnology is one such area that can improve the delivery of active ingredients, ensuring more targeted application and reduced quantities. Novel products with binary, ternary and quaternary moieties with advanced controlled release formulations provide prolonged protection and reduced application frequency. Novel formulations serve the interests of the farmer while minimizing the environmental impact. Best Agrolife is at the forefront of formulation R&D and has a growing patent portfolio in this arena of complex formulations.

These technologies are rapidly undergoing a transformation and will soon become common in the near future. The government of India is also significantly promoting the digitization of agriculture. Data analytics and AI based crop protection advise will be the future for environmentally viable food security in the times of climate change. 

Commitment to Sustainability 

In the fiscal year 2023-24, Best Agrolife made notable progress in sustainability and operational excellence. The company’s agreement with Fourth Partner Energy to utilize solar power for its Gajraula factory underscores its commitment to reducing reliance on conventional energy sources and supporting India’s clean energy goals. This initiative not only highlights Best Agrolife’s dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint but also sets a precedent for responsible manufacturing practices within the agrochemical sector. 

Beyond renewable energy, Best Agrolife has embraced digital technology to enhance operational efficiency. The enterprise adoption of SAP S/4HANA ERP represents a transformative leap for the company. This migration facilitates seamless data integration across finance, supply chain, manufacturing, and sales functions, providing real-time insights that enhance decision-making, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. Mr. Kumar notes, "By leveraging SAP S/4HANA, Best Agrolife is optimizing its internal processes and supporting data-driven product development, market analysis, and customer engagement."

Product Innovation and Excellence 

Best Agrolife’s approach to innovation is marked by its expansive product portfolio and unwavering commitment to excellence. The company offers a comprehensive range of insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators, all designed to tackle the complex challenges faced by contemporary farmers. Central to this approach is the development of a portfolio of patented innovations that provide holistic benefits to farmers. One of the patented products, ″Ronfen″, exemplifies this commitment. A powerful insecticide, ″Ronfen″ combines Pyriproxyfen, Dinotefuron, and Diafenthiuron to offer exceptional control over the cotton sucking pest complex with a single application. It’s ease of use and reliable performance have made it a preferred choice for Indian cotton growers, enhancing crop health and boosting yields.

Another notable product is ″Warden Extra″, which has gained widespread recognition in India’s rice market. This ternary combination of Trifloxystrobin, Thiamethoxam, and Thiophanate Methyl provides unmatched protection against pests and diseases. Similarly, ″Tricolor″, an innovative fungicide blending Trifloxystrobin, Difenoconazole, and Sulphur, offers broad-spectrum coverage with prophylactic, curative, and eradicative action. Its triple-action properties promote healthy produce and serve as an excellent tool for resistance management, improving productivity across diverse climates and conditions.

The company’s recent innovations include products such as ″Defender″, ″Nemagen″, and ″Orisulam″. ″Defender″ combines Pymetrozine, Dinotefuran, and Pyraclostrobin to offer dual-action protection against insect pests and fungal diseases in paddy crops. ″Nemagen″ is a broad-spectrum insecticide, provides exceptional control over a range of pests, while ″Orisulam″ as a herbicide for paddy crops offering comprehensive weed control with a patented triple combination. Products like ″Nemagen″ with low environmental impact show the commitment to providing solutions that protect both crops and the planet. By promoting IPM and developing products with minimal environmental impact, Best Agrolife is enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to the preservation of natural ecosystems.

With 44 new farmer products under development, Best Agrolife is pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation. A significant milestone was achieved in fiscal year 2024 when Best Agrolife became the first Indian company to manufacture both the active ingredient and formulation of Pyroxasulfone. This accomplishment reflects the company’s forward-thinking strategy and proactive approach to meeting the evolving needs of farmers.

Research and Development

Some of the newer developments in fungicidal moieties include SDHI (Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors), QIL (Quinone Inside Inhibitors), SDHI + QoI Combinations, DMI (Demethylation Inhibitors), Carboxamides, Picolinamides and Carboxamides fungicides. Newer herbicide moieties with novel modes of action such as 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO), dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitors in addition to acetolactate synthase (ALS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors. Best Agrolife is working on the synthesis of advanced fungicide and herbicide chemistries that are best suited for the farmers across the globe and the environment around us. 

Best Agrolife is also advancing its R&D facilities for technical synthesis, intermediates synthesis, and backward integration. The company’s expertise in multi-step organic synthesis allows it to develop a wide range of agrochemical products, including Strobilurin fungicides like Trifloxystrobin, Azoxystrobin, Picoxystrobin, Kresoxim-methyl, Pyraclostrobin, as well as moieties from Pyrazole family, herbicides like Topramezone, Halosulfuron methyl, Penoxsulam, Pyrithiobac, Pyroxasulfone, Pyroxsulam and Insecticides like Novaluron, Diafenthiuron and Spirotetramat. The company engages in multi-stage organic synthesis involving a variety of reactions, including:

• Oxidation reactions such as KMnO₄, O₂, H₂O₂/Na₂WO₄·2H₂O involving carbon atom and hetero atoms, and auto-oxidation using catalysts.

• Reduction reactions involving H₂-Pd/C, H₂-Pt/C, H₂-Raney Ni, Sodium dithionite, Hypophosphorous acid. 

• Friedel-Craft Acylation using Lewis acids as well as Zeolites.

• Dieckmann condensation and Aldol condensation

• Nucleophilic Substitution that includes Aliphatic and Aromatic Nucleophilic substitution reactions.

• Halogenation reaction including Bromination, Chlorination of aromatic and aliphatic substrates using free radical chemistry

• Protection and Deprotection of various functional groups

• Cyclization reactions 

• Esterification and transesterification

• Sulfonation of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds

• Sandmeyer Reaction 

• High pressure reactions

• Cyanation on aliphatic and aromatic substrates

• Coupling reactions including Suzuki, Suzuki-Miyaura, Heck, Amino Heck 

• Oximation reactions including Oxime formation of various aliphatic/aromatic aldehydes and ketones

• Chiral synthesis & Chiral resolutions 

• Etherification and Thio etherification

This extensive research capability ensures that Best Agrolife can meet the needs of farmers across diverse agroclimatic regions while maintaining a commitment to sustainability.

The company already holds several registrations for the indigenous technical manufacturing and is actively working to secure approvals for a range of molecules including Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides in key international markets such as LatAM, the EU, Australia as well as South East Asi and MENA region. 

Mr. Kumar explains, "Our global expansion strategy is focused on leveraging our expertise and innovations to address agricultural challenges on a global scale. By adapting our solutions to diverse agroclimatic conditions, we aim to position Best Agrolife as a leader in the agrochemical market."

Empowering Farmers through Education and Awareness

At the core of Best Agrolife’s mission is the empowerment of farmers. The company understands that product innovation alone is not enough to transform agriculture. Recognizing the importance of educating farmers on effective crop protection and proper product usage, Best Agrolife has adopted a farmer-centric approach. The company’s distribution network, which includes over 8,400 distributors and access to 1.5 million farmers across 21 states, enables it to organize on-ground events and farmer meetings nationwide. These platforms provide farmers with hands-on knowledge, empowering them to make informed decisions about crop care.

Best Agrolife’s ground team maintains regular contact with farmers, offering personalized technical support and real-time guidance on pest control, crop nutrition, and disease management. This proactive engagement fosters strong relationships with the farming community and encourages the adoption of innovative, field-proven solutions.

Strategic Growth and Resilience

Best Agrolife’s vision for the future includes strategic growth and global expansion. In FY24, the company made significant strides with acquisitions, including a 99% stake in Kashmir Chemicals and the acquisition of Sudarshan Farm Chemicals. These moves have bolstered Best Agrolife’s manufacturing and R&D capabilities, expanding its product offerings and enhancing its competitive edge.

The company is developing a wide portfolio of product registrations in export markets. Despite challenges such as global supply chain disruptions and pricing pressures, Best Agrolife has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. The shift from institutional to branded sales, with an impressive 85% growth in branded business in FY24, reflects the company’s strength in brand building and customer engagement.

Pathway Forward

Best Agrolife Ltd is driven by its focus on innovation, sustainability, and farmer empowerment. With 44 new products under development, Best Agrolife is pushing the boundaries of agricultural innovation. The company is helping growers meet the challenges of modern agriculture. With a robust pipeline of products Best Agrolife is poised lead the way toward a more sustainable future for agriculture.

With the farmer’s prosperity at heart, Best Agrolife is striving ahead, riding on the spirit of innovation and envisioning an environmentally friendly future.

This story was initially published in the 2024 India Focus. Download the magazine to read more stories.

Please contact Christina Xie at christina@agropages.com if you would like to share your company story, contribute articles or advertising with AgroPages.