5th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2024) held successfully | Continued Technology Upgrade Contributing to Formulation Advancement

The 5th Ag Formulation & Application Technology Congress (FAT 2024), hosted by AgroPages, was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, on November 26 and 27, 2024. 

The event attracted more than 350 delegates from nearly 200 companies at home and abroad, having received strong support from sponsors including Ashland, Wuxi yijingfung Technology, Blossum (Australia), Nantong Deyi, Ajinomoto Agro Solutions, SINVOCHEM, Pengze Technology, Xian Tbio Crop Science, Ginyungton Soilcare New Materials, Long Yeast Science, Zhejiang Runhe, Jinwang Intelligent Sci-tech, Harworld Biotechnology and Ross Equipment.

At this session of FAT, AgroPages continued its adherence to the core concept of ″global vision and local innovation." It brought together 28 industry experts and leaders from all over the world for in-depth discussions on the theme of ″technical innovation and market navigation.″ 

This session of FAT covered formulation-related hot topics and difficult points such as the high-end formulation development system, innovative and adjuvant formulation technology, aerial application-oriented formulations, nanopesticide formulation and biological formulation development and innovative solutions, multi-scenario application technology, latest formulation market dynamics and regulatory updates. In addition, the speakers discussed the application of cutting-edge technologies like big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to product discovery, development, and optimization. 

The exchanges also addressed the development prospects of cutting-edge technologies, which facilitate innovative thinking and practical problem-solving. This will promote the technical advancement and sustainable development of the agrochemical formulation industry, which will significantly contribute to the increase of global agricultural productivity.

After accumulative operations and development for five years, FAT has become one of the essential industry platforms for the exchange and sharing of knowledge. In the opening speech, Eva Hoo, CEO of AgroPages, compared the advancement of pesticide formulation technology to a tree of science and technology, which requires nourishment by multiple thoughts and cross-border collaboration. Looking back at the operations and development of FAT, the theme of all sessions focused on the dynamics of industry development. 

From cutting-edge technology to market change to the update of regulatory requirements, the theme of each FAT not only reflected the adaptation and transformation of the agrochemical formulation industry in the face of external pressure, such as the global agricultural production challenge, stricter regulatory restriction and the increased resistance from diseases, insect pest, and weeds but also reflects the industry transformation from market development towards technological innovation, intelligent and digital technology application, the all-round upgrading of integrated development of big data and the cutting-edge AI technologies. This process of advancement not only demonstrated the continuous progress and evolution of the agrochemical formulation industry in adaptation to the challenges of global farming, stricter environmental regulation, and market diversification but also showed the preparedness of the formulation industry to embrace technological innovation with an open attitude to steer the sustainable development of the global agriculture. 

Up to 2024, FAT gathered the presence of 100-plus global industry elites to share wisdom and experience, injecting new vitality into the industry. Lastly, Eva Hoo called on all industry colleagues to continue to work closely and learn from each other to move forward toward agrochemical formulation innovation and jointly open a new page in the development of the agricultural formulation industry. 

Eva Hoo, CEO at AgroPages

Agrochemical Formulation Technology Upgrade Strategy, Market Changes, and Regulatory Dynamics

Sugata Roy, Head of Global Formulations and Delivery Technologies at ADAMA

Under the perspective of globalization, how does ADAMA make local formulation innovations to address industry challenges and drive sustainable farming? In his presentation, Sugata Roy, Head of Global Formulations and Delivery Technologies at ADAMA, highlighted the importance of local formulation development and discussed the critical role of formulators in the supply of safe, innovative, and environment-friendly formulations. He said that in light of the food safety concerns, the increased demand for sustainable solutions, and the increased regulatory restriction, ADAMA is committed to achieving these objectives through the development and supply of innovative formulation portfolios. Sugata also presented how ADAMA could meet farmers' needs and deliver high-quality solutions through value innovation, R&D investment, and a proprietary advanced formulation technology platform. 

With approximately US$200 million in R&D spending each year, ADAMA prioritizes developing key markets and strategic active ingredients to increase the market share via the provision of differentiated and high-margin products. The company has set up R&D centers in Israel, China, India, and Brazil, which enable better fulfillment of local needs and tackling of challenges. Sugata stressed the company’s innovative formulation technology platforms and applications, which include ASORBITAL^®, SESGAMA^®, AYALON™, TOV^®, Effervescent Technology, RAINFASTNESS Technology, and DESIDRO^®. Through a series of case studies, such as Maxentis^®, Forapro^®, Maganic^®, Avastel, Almada^®, Apresa^®, Edaptis^®, and Agil^®, Sugata presented ADAMA’s problem-solving technology innovations to respond to the specific farming challenges to fulfill grower’s needs and increase crop yield.

Silvio Luiz Machado, R&D Manager at ADAMA Brazil

As regards formulation development in Brazil, Silvio Luiz Machado, R&D Manager at ADAMA Brazil, talked about five key challenges: multi active ingredients formulation, oil dispersion formulation, biological formulation, formulations with different deliveries technologies and R&D formulation development centers in multiple strategic locations. Machado shared ADAMA’s solutions to these challenges, such as the development of advanced formulation types to stabilize multi-active ingredient formulations, the use of specialized thickening agents to improve the stability of oil dispersion formulation, and the development of compatibility matrix for microorganisms and co-formulants to ensure the synergistic effect and time-saving during the formulation development. In addition, the presentation addressed the latest regulatory policies in Brazil, including the New legislation law n.14785/2023 and Normative SDA/MAPA Nº 1.136, which aims to speed up the process of registration and strengthen control of the quality of pesticide formulations.

Dr. Ma Guolan, Researcher of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Since the diversification of rice cultivation methods in 1995, which led to the complication of weed population, the density of malignant weeds has been increasing year by year, which has had a profound impact on rice yield. In response to this occurrence, Dr. Ma Guolan, Researcher of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, presented the Iterative upgrades and innovative strategies for rice herbicides, saying that the Chinese herbicide application has evolved from amide and sulfonylurea & mixtures herbicides to stem and leaf treatment agents, up to the times of application of the key product varieties. In recent years, weed resistance has been occurring more seriously, especially after more than 20 years of continuous use of some herbicides; the rapid development of resistance poses a serious challenge to agricultural production. 

In terms of innovation strategy, Dr. Ma proposed the scientific prevention and control strategy of ″comprehensive prevention and control, early treatment and small treatment, reduction and increase in effectiveness,″ which encompasses the establishment of a resistance risk assessment mechanism, early management system and application of multi-target herbicides and combination of multiple herbicides, thus achieving the precision prevention and control of weeds, reducing doses and increasing efficiency. This approach has facilitated the problem-solving of weed resistance and the protection of rice yield and the environment. Dr. Ma also pointed out the critical multiple-target herbicides with new modes of action - Tripyrasulfone, flusulfinam, pyraquinate, Benzobicyclon, tefuryltrione, tetflupyrolimet, pyraclonil, feproxydim, profoxydim, quintrione and halauxifen-methyl, which are expected to become primary demand on the market.

Dr. David Calvert, Director and Co-founder at iFormulate Limited, UK

Dr. David Calvert, Director and Co-founder at iFormulate Limited, UK, spoke about the emerging challenges and opportunities faced by the agrochemical formulation industry, such as technology upgrades, regulatory change, and market change. Dr. Calvert pointed out that the industry is faced with significant issues such as regulation and restriction, sustainability, substitution, cost performance, product stability and robustness, innovation, and complexity management. He said that these challenges also present opportunities for business growth, having emphasized the key role of formulation innovation in responding to these challenges in particular. He shared views on precision farming, intelligent application, microplastics-oriented solutions, and issues related to wettability, rainfastness, and UV resistance.

José Luis Garrido Morales, Scientific Expert - Physical Chemistry and Analytical Methods at SynTech Research Group

José Luis Garrido Morales，Scientific Expert - Physical Chemistry and Analytical Methods at SynTech Research Group, presented an in-depth analysis of global regulatory policies for agrochemical formulations and adjuvants, covering regulatory changes in Europe, the United States, Brazil and other Latin American countries. The presentation described the EU’s strict system of review of co-formulants, in particular, the new Regulation 2023/574 on detailed rules and criteria for the identification of co-formulants, the Regulation 2021/383 on the restriction of the presence of hazardous substances in adjuvants and the Regulation 2024/1487 on data required by the EU-level approval of safeners and synergists. The presentation also addressed the adjuvant regulatory policies in the United States and Brazil, including the US EPA’s review of the formulation ingredients and Brazil’s regulatory requirement of adjuvants. Morales stressed that in the face of the increasingly complex regulatory environment, manufacturers ought to observe the compliance requirement at the early stage of product development, establish and improve data quality and management systems, and be prepared for long-term efforts and investment. Moreover, the selection of a professional and reliable partner is one of the key strategies to tackle regulatory challenges. 

Li Jiao, Senior Engineer of Nankai University

Li Jiao, Senior Engineer of Nankai University, made a presentation titled ″Pesticide Formulation and Adjuvant Evaluation System and its Application in Research and Development of Formulations and Adjuvants.″ The presentation presented a history of the development of pesticide chemistry research at Nankai University and the main tasks of the pesticide formulation platform, which include research and development of aerial application-oriented adjuvants, design of polymer adjuvants and application in pesticide formulation, and the in-depth study of conventional formulations. Li Jiao also introduced a series of advanced characterization devices and means, such as the advanced rheometer and dispersive spectrometer, which are used to test the stability, wetting, and spreading performance of pesticide formulations. 

The work team at Nankai University has established a performance test and evaluation system, along with a physiochemical property database. These achievements not only helped the characterization of adjuvants and development of targeted synergists but also served as a guideline for a selection of herbicide synergists and screening of tank-mix adjuvants, as well as the rapid characterization of the physical stability of low-melting pesticides. Lastly, Li Jiao hoped to apply the evaluation system to a broader range of pesticide formulation research and development while hoping to improve the database in order to establish a platform of relationship between the formulation type and adjuvant, adjuvant and pesticide, formulation type and crop, thus achieving earlier result of research of pesticide formulations at the level of molecular design.

Innovative adjuvant technologies in support of formulation upgrade

Jean J. Gulka, Crop Care Business Director at Ashland

Jean J. Gulka, Crop Care Business Director at Ashland, made a presentation titled ″Sustainable chemistry: biodegradable multifunctional super wetting agent.″ The presentation highlighted Ashland’s super wetting agent innovation platform, as well as its biodegradable multifunctional easy-wet™ 300n wetting agent, which is a non-ionic, biodegradable, silicone-free, APEO-free, and non-phytotoxic multifunctional super wetting agent. The presentation showcased the superiorities of the product in reducing water surface tension, improving pesticide spreading and coverage on leaves, reducing drift, and improving pesticide efficacy, as supported by laboratory testing and field trials. In particular, in the glyphosate trial, the foliar yellowing of weeds appears extremely evident after adding 0.1% easy-wet™ 300N. This product is not only compatible with a wide range of crop protection and nutrition products but has also been certified per OECD method 301F as a biodegradable product, which supports sustainable agricultural practices.

Li Zengliang, Technical Manager at Indorama Ventures

Li Zengliang, Technical Manager at Indorama Ventures, presented the Technology and approach for screening herbicide formulations and synergists based on photosynthesis. This technology enables a rapid assessment of the actual effect of herbicide formulations and synergists by monitoring the decay of plant photosynthesis after application. This method is based upon plant physiology, which predicted the performance of different product applications, thus effectively avoiding the lengthy biological activity testing in the early stages, being time-saving and cost-saving. The presentation touched upon Indorama’s validation of the effectiveness of photosynthesis via isotope labeling. It demonstrated the significant effect of the novel synergist in improving the uptake and delivery of mesotrione inside plants. Li Zengliang stressed that this approach not only improves the screening efficiency but also reduces environmental impact. This has opened up a new technical path to the development of pesticide formulations. This technology is not only fit for contact herbicides like glufosinate but is also applicable to systemic herbicides such as clethodim and fluroxypyr, which are new ideas and methods for the development of herbicide formulations.

Dr. James Qin, CTO & Founder of SINVOCHEM

Dr. James, CTO & Founder of SINVOCHEM, delivered a speech on ″Particle size optimization of high-load OD formulation and the development of key dispersants to promote stability.″ He said that the challenges to OD development include the high viscosity of the sand-mill high-concentration OD, the quality change of pesticide TC, difficult unification of formulas, poor fluidity of high-concentration formulations, and the manageable precipitation of crystals of formulations. 

Dr. James stressed that the development of an efficient and stable dispersant is crucial for improving the performance of oil suspension. This provided an idea of the design of a high-concentration OD dispersant. He elaborated on the technical details, such as the dispersant adsorption of particles, the interrelationship between each phase of suspensions, the interaction between adjuvant and particles, and the difference between oil suspension and water suspension. 

In the presentation, Dr. James introduced a novel, highly efficient acrylic polymer hypedispersant, SP-OF3497. This product is based on the steric hindrance dispersion mechanism. It performs excellently in reducing viscosity, optimizing particle size, and improving stability, thus significantly enhancing the strength and efficacy of oil dispersions (OD).

Nick Gooch, CEO at Pangaea Biosciences

To address the global issue of agrochemical resistance, Nick Gooch, CEO at Pangaea Biosciences in the UK, highlighted Pangaea Biosciences’ two-platform technologies, Booster and Enigma. These technologies aim to overcome agrochemical resistance, improve the efficiency of insecticides and herbicides, and reduce the environmental impact via the use of food-safe and environmentally friendly ingredients. 

Booster is designed to overcome insecticide resistance through the unique delivery system, Tardis, which effectively improves pest’s vulnerability to conventional pesticides by inhibiting the P450 metabolic system in pests, thereby restoring the effectiveness of pesticides. As the risk of pests developing resistance to the Booster technology is relatively low, this provided a sustainable solution to pesticide resistance management. At present, Booster has been granted registration in Poland, the Baltic States, Romania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, while registration in Asia and Australia is being processed. On the other hand, Enigma offered an eco-friendly glyphosate formulation that could reduce the use of surfactants and improve the effect of weeding.

The presentation also showcased the results of more than 300 independent trials conducted by the company worldwide, demonstrating the effectiveness of these products in controlling resistant pests and weeds. Lastly, the presentation outlined the company’s global patent landscape, market valuation (between £112 million and £630 million), and product pipeline, offering opportunities for investment and cooperation in the worldwide distribution of its products.

Cédric Ernenwein, Global Scientific and Technical Manager at Rovensa Next

Cédric Ernenwein, Global Scientific and Technical Manager at ROVENSA NEXT, shared his experience in the selection of optimal adjuvants to enhance the performance of biological formulations. The presentation highlighted the need to develop novel adjuvants that can be used for tank mix or biological auxiliaries to improve the wettability, leaf adhesion, or permeability of active ingredients. The presentation introduced in detail the product features of the A-008-038 prototype – tank-mix adjuvant, covering testing of compatibility with biocontrol agents, along with the positive performance in greenhouse and field trials, with the conclusion that safe and booster adjuvants are essential for the success of microbial pesticides. This provides a new paradigm for the future development of biopesticides.

Innovative solution and upgrading strategy for aerial application-oriented formulations & adjuvants   

Zhang Long, R&D Director at Noposion

In recent years, China’s agricultural drone application market has experienced rapid growth and significant changes. Meanwhile, the requirement for aerial application-oriented pesticides has become stricter. Zhang Long, R&D Director of Noposion, shared the ideas and cases of upgrading and application aerial application-oriented pesticides, focusing on the transformation of aerial spraying, which began from the 1.0 era characterized by applicability and diversity and now moves into the 2.0 era with more emphasis on functionality and synergism. Zhang Long pointed out that the development of aerial application-oriented pesticides should not only be limited to the unique features of aerial sprayings, such as the small particle size, spreadability, compatibility, and adhesivity but should be concentrated continuously on the improvement of the anti-drift property and the spray safety. Zhang Long presented the four upgrading approaches of Noposion.Yuyan Intelligent, which are stable aerial application-oriented pesticides at high concentration and low dilution factor, nano particle size of suspension agents, the improvement of the surface chemical properties of aerial application-oriented suspensions, and the improvement of the solid formulas. 

In addition, the presentation provided information on overseas aerial application-oriented pesticide registration policies, especially the current situation, and requirements in Japan for the registration of aerial application-oriented pesticides. Lastly, Zhang Long appealed against the registration of products for aerial spraying: Standardization of administration of aerial application-oriented pesticides; consideration of release of a guideline for registration while registration policy is not finalized; possibility of formulation of industry standard based on the existing group standard; exploration of an efficacy test procedure and time limit of testing of aerial application-oriented pesticides; selection of products of some of the manufacturers for pilot registration; determination of reasonable registration fees. 

Dr. Liao Kechao, Director of Application R&D at WuXi JingFung Technology

Liao Kechao, Director of Application R&D at Wuxi Jing Fung Technology, made a presentation on ″Stable Solution and Analysis of Tank Mix in the Application Scenario of Aerial Spraying.″ It began with an overview of the product features of aerial spraying and the problems encountered in the current tank-mix applications. He pointed out that the root causes of issues with aerial spraying include the ultra-low dilution factor of tank mixing, the randomness and disorder of tank mixing, the high-salt liquid fertilizer tank mixing, and the time stability of the tank mixing. The presentation used case studies to verify the tank-mix effect of dispersants via examples of different dispersants being mixed with different suspensions and emulsifiable concentrate/microemulsion tank-mixing, with different suspension agent + emulsifiable concentrate + high-salt fertilizer tank mixing, with different suspensions, microemulsions, and high-salt fertilizer tank mixing or being added with stabilizer. Lastly, the presentation stresses the application of monoester-contained phosphate dispersants (e.g., ULTRASURF 1020 and ULTRASURF 1020P) and the high-salt suspension formulation solutions (e.g., dispersant ULTRASURF 7321) as well as the emamectin benzoate solution or its mixture solutions (e.g., dispersants ULTRASURF 1020 and ULTRASURF 2170). These products perform excellently while improving the stability of tank mixing for aerial spraying, adaptation to a high-salt system and tank mixing with different fertilizers. Hence, the products can provide a strong safeguard for the smooth going of aerial spraying.

Innovative seed treatment solutions to tackle global microplastics

Polina Podobed, Lead Innovative Projects at Ajinomoto AgroSolutions

Polina Podobed, Lead Innovative Projects at Ajinomoto AgroSolutions, delivered her keynote speech titled ″Addressing global microplastic concerns through a film forming system for sustainable seed coating solutions." In view of the EU’s planned ban on microplastics by 2027, Ajinomoto Agricultural Solutions has responded positively to developing microplastic-free seed coating products to replace conventional acrylic polymers to reduce environmental impact. 

In her presentation, Polina Podobed revealed how Ajinomoto could replace conventional polymers by developing biodegradable and water-soluble polymers to reduce dust, increase flowability, and improve the quality of seed coatings. She presented a specific product – the microplastic-free solution, SEP221, an innovative solution compatible with plant protection products, which is non-toxic to plants, with good stability and fluidity. It is a promising product with great potential and application prospects, which contribute to sustainable agricultural production.

Gabriel Onaga, R&D Scientist at Incotec

Gabriel Onaga, R&D Scientist at Incotec, gave a presentation titled ″Polymers on seed treatment technologies and microplastic issue,″ detailing the basic features of polymers, such as film-forming, adhesion, rapid drying, and resistance to physical damage. He also explained how the features make polymers to be an ideal choice for seed treatment. He spoke mainly about the DISCOTM technology, which can increase binder load in tank mix slurry while maintaining space for the inclusion of other technologies and improving the uniform distribution of active ingredients on seed, with cosmetic improvement as well. Furthermore, the presentation probed into the environmental concern of microplastics, addressing the issue of their presence in the environment and the potential toxicity to the ecosystem, as well as the Reach restriction proposed by ECHA to regulate the use of microplastics. Lastly, the presentation introduces Incotec’s microplastic-free solutions to achieve sustainability for seed treatments.

Innovative formulation technology: Chromophore pesticide molecule, microplastic-free encapsulation technology, and crystal form design in pesticide formulation

Dr. Michael Berkovitch, Agrochemical Formulation Expert at MICHBERK.COM

Dr. Michael Berkovitch, Agrochemical Formulation Expert at MICHBERK.COM, spoke about the chromophore pesticide molecules: color dynamics & stabilization. With more than 30 years of experience in the development of agrochemicals, Dr. Berkovitch dug into the mechanism of color visualization and the role of chromophores and conjugate systems in determining the color of substances. The presentation highlighted the influence of environmental factors on color, such as the change in pH value, type of solvents, temperature, etc. He talked about the similarity between pesticide molecules and organic dyestuff structures and how the similarity leads to color change. By analyzing the effect of the deprotonation and the changes in the conjugated system on color, the presentation has proposed measures to maintain the color stability of pesticide formulations, including pH control, formulation optimization, metal complexation assessment, antioxidant incorporation, use of UV filters, packaging, and storage, stability testing, monitoring of residual effect of solvents and quality control.

Marta Bonaconsa, CEO at Nanomnia

Marta Bonaconsa, CEO at Nanomnia, shared the experience of microplastic-free encapsulation of compounds for plant protection and nutrition. Nanomnia is dedicated to the research and development of microplastic-free, sustainable, and degradable nano, micro, and macro encapsulation to enhance agrochemical products. 

It is worth noting that the company’s encapsulation technology is applied to a wide variety of products, including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, acaricides, nematicides, virucides, molluscicides, fertilizers, and biostimulants, to increase the efficacy of agrochemical products. 

The company designs and tests innovative encapsulation formulations utilizing a variety of natural, natural-derived, and microplastic-free materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids, to improve the efficiency and stability of crop protection and nutritional products. 

Nanomnia’s encapsulation solutions provide greener solutions with less impact on the environment and the end users. They also increase the efficiency of agrochemicals' active ingredients and control the release of the active substance while reducing the frequency of spraying. Meanwhile, the solutions comply with the REACH/ECHA regulation on microplastics.

To be specific, the company’s encapsulation technology significantly improves the protective and sustained release of pesticides, which include herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides, while reducing degradation and volatilization of active ingredients, thus ensuring the stable performance of pesticides under environmental stress. Moreover, Nanomnia’s technology enables the release of kinetics-based precise control, which fulfills specific agricultural needs while providing the physical stability of the formulations in the course of production and storage, thereby improving the efficiency and environmental friendliness of pesticides. Lastly, Marta shared the company’s plans for the development of microorganisms, peptides, and miRNAs, having also answered ten questions about encapsulation technology. 

Yang Jingxiang, Researcher of Nankai University

Yang Jingxiang, a researcher at Nankai University, conducted an in-depth analysis of the innovative design of crystal form in pesticide formulation. He pointed out that crystal form, as a key factor in pesticide formulation, has a significant impact on efficacy, stability, and safety, saying that the difficulty of the formulation is not only a technical difficulty but is also a challenging issue yet to be solved even after a lot of attempts. By analyzing the key difficulties in the development of pesticide formulations, such as the unstable efficacy, crystal growth, creaming, and decomposition of technical materials, the presentation has proposed solutions - Enhancement of the intermolecular interaction and protection of the reaction site via the thermodynamically stabilized crystal form, co-crystal increase of melting point and regulation of the crystal structure. Lastly, the presentation, through practical case studies, gave a summary of the means of improvement of efficacy and stability of pesticide formulations, which are based upon an understanding of the background of the problem of crystal form and proper designing of the crystal form in an innovative manner.

Biological formulation: Bull Kelp, signal molecule, humic acid, synthetic biology, biochemistry, and OD biological

Carlton Heres, Production Manager at Australian Blossum PTY LTD

Carlton Heres, Production Manager at Australian Blossum PTY LTD, gave an introduction to Blossum’s unique bull kelp formulation – SeaPro^®, which is based on a compound enzymatic hydrolysis technology originating from the cold waters of Tasmania, Australia, being cold-tolerant, fast-growing and rich in marine minerals. It has shown significant advantages as a biofertilizer ingredient in promoting crop growth, improving crop quality, and enhancing stress resistance. In his presentation, Carlton detailed Blossum’s complex enzymatic hydrolysis technology, which precisely degrades the cell wall under moderate temperatures and pH levels and releases active substances while maintaining functional integrity. Furthermore, Carlton elaborated on the symbiotic synergistic mechanism of SeaPro^® in biostimulating, systemic resistance induction, nutrient supply, and microbial community building, having demonstrated the potential of SeaPro^® in increasing crop yield and improving quality, as illustrated by practical case studies.

Dr. Lucie Reinišová, Formulation Scientist at Fyteko

Dr. Lucie Reinišová, Formulation Scientist at Fyteko, delivered a presentation titled ″Innovative biostimulant formulation: Overcoming challenges for an enhanced field performance.″ The presentation outlines the challenges facing biostimulants, such as the diversity of raw materials, inconsistent properties, unsecured chemical stability, and the unclear regulatory framework. The presentation also showcased Fyteko’s signal molecule technology, which is a new bioactive compound under the protection of intellectual property rights in more than 80 countries around the world. The new bioactive compound has excellent compatibility with microorganisms and biomolecules, is safe for humans and the environment, and is compliant with the U.S. organic farming standard. Fyteko’s formulations are capable of tackling these challenges via the unique molecule approach, customized high-performance formulation, superior compatibility and stability, and sustainable and safe solutions that increase global crop yield. The presentation also introduces Fyteko’s product line, which includes Nurspray^®, Nurspray^®HC, Nurseed^®HC, and Nurseed^®MAX. These products have an outstanding performance in reducing surface tension, improving wettability and stability, and being exceptionally compatible. The field trial results have shown that these products are highly effective in increasing crop yield and performance, mainly when being applied to corn, soybean, tomato, and pepper. This shows the great potential of Fyteko’s formulation applications worldwide for increasing crop yield and performance. 

Tong Leiting, Executive Director at Tbio Crop Science

Tong Leiting, Executive Director at Tbio Crop Science, shared a presentation titled ″TBIO HK material research and functional product development system.″ TBIO is dedicated to the discovery of new materials and new functions, especially the HK code-represented humic acid materials. The presentation detailed TBIO’s progress in research and development of TBIO HK materials and functional products, including the study of humic acid molecular structure, functional groups, conventional and modern processes of extraction as well as optimization of humic acid properties via high-temperature and high-pressure deconstruction, ultrasonic treatment and nano modification. Lastly, the presentation showcased TBIO’s proven products based on functional materials, such as TBIO HUMICA, HUMAS, ACME, ASALIS, and AGUARETENCE, which are designed to improve stress resistance, promote growth, and achieve maximized economic output of crops. 

Daoyong Gong, PhD at Chongqing University, Leader of Harworld biosynthetic biology research group at Guangxi Academy of Sciences

Daoyong Gong, PhD at Chongqing University, Leader of Harworld biosynthetic biology research group at Guangxi Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech on ″Developing functional amino acids and oligosaccharides with synthetic biology for formulation innovation.″ The presentation detailed Harworld Biotech’s progress in research and applications based on synthetic biology, covering the biosynthetic route, production process, functional study, and agricultural application of bioactive molecules such as 5--ALA, AOS, GABA, and BABA. The presentation highlighted the remarkable effect of these biological products in promoting crop growth, improving the utilization rate of fertilizers and pesticides, enhancing crop stress resistance, and improving the quality of agricultural products, which is a demonstration of the company’s research achievements and industrial applications of high technologies such as microbial engineering, enzyme engineering, enzyme engineering, and gene editing.

Antoine Levy, Formulation consultant at Abellio LLC

Antoine Levy, formulation consultant at Abellio LLC, shared the rise of biochemicals in crop protection and the challenges and strategies to tackle these challenges. The presentation probed into the development of biochemicals, covering novel active ingredients such as peptides, RNAi, and plant extracts, as well as the challenges with respect to manufacturing, product stability, field application, and regulatory compliance. The presentation dug into the production process of biochemical pesticides, underlining the importance of stability, storage, and improvement of field efficacy, with a proposal given for the development of new products in the absence of information and knowledge. Via case studies, the presentation demonstrated how formulation could be elaborately optimized to improve the stability and the effect of the application of these new biochemical pesticides. The presentation provides valuable insight and practical guidelines for the development of agricultural science and technology.

Brittany Nordmark, Senior Formulation Scientist at Certis Biologicals

Brittany Nordmark, Senior Formulation Scientist at Certis Biologicals, delivered a speech on″ Oil in the soil: Formulating an OD for both in-furrow and foliar application.″ Nordmark briefed on the challenges in developing liquid biopesticides for both in-furrow and foliar applications, particularly concerning the stability of hydrophobic live microbials. Ideally, the type of formulation should be considered for low cost, long shelf life, non-cytotoxicity, and germination inhibition. The presentation compared four common biopesticide formulation types, choosing OD as the most appropriate type of formulation, having illustrated the formulation requirements and challenges of oil dispersion and shared experiences in selecting the right carriers, surfactants, and thickeners. Lastly, the presentation demonstrated testing of oil dispersion for phytotoxicity and germination inhibition on cucumber plants through bioassays, which provided practical references for the scientific development of biopesticide formulations.

Application of big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in product development

Amit Noam, CEO at Lavie Bio

Lavie Bio is an ag-biological company that leverages big data and AI technologies to facilitate and accelerate innovative design and development of agricultural microbial products. Amit Noam, CEO at Lavie Bio, gave a speech on ″Big Data & AI for ag-biological products discovery and optimization,″ presenting Lavie Bio’s AI+Biological-based proprietary BDD platform to discover, optimize and develop novel ag-biological products, where the best strains with required functions are screened out of hundreds of thousands of strains, which are developed and commercialized while the development cycle is shortened and cost is reduced. Lavie Bio’s goal is to launch and market a new product every 1-2 years. Currently, the company has eight products being developed in various stages, two of which have already completed development and commercialized. In his presentation, Amit Noam revealed Lavie Bio’s product pipeline, which includes LAV321 and LAV311, targeting the control of downy mildew and fruit rots respectively, in high value fruits and vegetable, part of which is used for the biopesticide market. The product pipeline demonstrates the company’s innovation capability and industry leadership in the agricultural biological industry.
 

Cao Chong, Researcher of the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Cao Chong, a Researcher at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, shared her experience in research and application of machine learning in the screening of functional adjuvants. The presentation gave an introduction to the study of the key influencing factors of the foliar deposition of pesticide droplets on the leaf surface of target crops, covering adhesion, contact angle, and dynamic surface tension. The research team claims for the first time that the adhesion between droplets and leaves is the main controlling factor for droplet deposition, having also clarified the influence of contact angle and dynamic surface tension on droplet deposition. On the basis of these physical and chemical properties, the research team constructed a machine learning prediction model containing 1,700 pieces of data, having selected five classical algorithms for training and prediction. As a result, it was found that the accuracy of the decision tree, random forest, and support vector machine is all above 90%, among which the decision tree model is of the best play with an accuracy of 95%. Through analysis of the importance of characterization, the key factors affecting droplet deposition are determined at this moment:  Adhesion> contact angle ≈ surface tension. This study not only provides a scientific basis for screening and evaluation of pesticide adjuvants but also provides a new technical approach for pesticide-use reduction, efficiency increase, and precise application. 

Nanopesticides with formulation types, quality characterization, industrial application, and development path

Wang Yan, Researcher of the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)

Wang Yan, Researcher of the Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), presented the ″Creation and industrial application of new formulation types of nano-pesticide″ focusing on novel formulations of nano pesticides (including water-based nano-formulations, nanosuspensions and nano-microcapsules, nanospheres and nanosolid dispersions) and their applications in product development. These new formulation types are designed to address the limitations of conventional pesticide formulations, such as insolubleness, coarse particles, and instability. The presentation also showcased the research team’s achievements in the development of these novel formulations, which include increased biological activity, improved shelf life, and reduced environmental impact. Moreover, the presentation introduced the environmentally responsive controlled release technology, such as temperature-responsive, humidity-responsive, and photosensitive-responsive pesticide delivery systems, which allow for the smart delivery of pesticides according to environmental conditions, thus improving the accuracy and safety of pesticide applications. Lastly, the presentation has proposed a dual-loaded delivery technology, which can carry two or more active ingredients at the same time to improve control efficiency and reduce pesticide use. In conclusion, the presentation expressed high expectations for the future market potential and industrial application of nanopesticides.

Du Fengpei, Professor at China Agricultural University

Du Fengpei, Professor at China Agricultural University, analyzed the quality characterization and industrialization development direction of nanopesticide. Professor Du said that thanks to the support of the policy, China has become one of the world’s leading countries in the research and application of nanopesticides. Meanwhile, Professor Du pointed out that the nanopesticide industry sector is faced with numerous challenges, such as the accurate determination of physiochemical control indicators, safeguards of complete release, optimization of slow-release effect and innovation of pesticide spraying technology. In terms of evaluation of formulation types, Professor Du held the view that firstly, nanopesticide should reach the standard of conventional pesticide formulations; secondly, the particle size should reach nano level while the mode of interaction between active ingredient and carrier needs to be verified. Concerning the direction of industrialization, Professor Du believed that nano-water suspension, nano-water dispersant and nano emulsion are possibly the directions of industrialization in the future, while improvement of efficiency of delivery is essential.

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