Collaborations in 2024 Crop Protection Industry: Multi-dimensional Collaborations, Leading New Trends of Technology, Market and Green Development

Editor’s note: In 2024, collaboration in the crop protection industry showed multidimensional trends of development, such as technological innovation, market expansion, green crop protection, and sustainable development, intensified strategic alliance and resource integration, digital transformation, and intelligent services. 

The collaboration promotes the upgrading of crop protection technology and global market layout and injects new impetus into the sustainable development of the crop protection industry.

In the future, with the further development of technology and the changes in market demand, collaboration within the crop protection industry will become more intensified, and the mode of cooperation become more diversified. Enterprises ought to seize the opportunities to enhance competitiveness and tackle the challenges facing global agriculture via strategic collaboration and resource integration.

Diversified mode of collaboration

1. Collaboration in technological research and innovation 

In 2024, collaboration in technological innovation in the agrochemical industry showed a satisfactory and accelerated development trend. Through in-depth collaboration with technology companies, biotechnology enterprises, and scientific research institutions, agrochemical enterprises could significantly accelerate the research, development, and application of novel crop protection products.

Syngenta’s partnership with Enko, an AI-powered crop health company, has dramatically shortened the cycle of the development of novel herbicides with the help of AI and machine learning. This mode of collaboration not only improves R&D efficiency but also reduces R&D costs, enabling companies to bring innovative products to markets faster. Also, Evogene, a leading computational biology company, reached a collaboration with Google Cloud to develop a cutting-edge foundation model for generative small molecules.  Evogene is planning the use of the ChemPass AI tech engine to develop novel compounds for drug development, sustainable crop protection, and other innovative products across a wide range of life-science industries. 

AgPlenus, a subsidiary of Evogene, signed a collaboration agreement with Bayer to develop a novel sustainable herbicide that targets APTH1 protein using the ChemPass AI platform, where Bayer is responsible for product testing and optimization, as backed up by its exclusive license for commercialization. Working together, the two sides are committed to accelerated delivery of economical and sustainable solutions to farmers. In addition, AgPlenus collaborated with Corteva to develop a new molecule with the brand-new herbicidal mechanism APCO-1, aiming to fix the issue of weed resistance and provide innovative solutions to global agricultural production. The collaboration between British Moa Technology and Nufarm has focused on the co-development of herbicides of a new mode of action, opening up a new approach to solving the problem of weed resistance.

The above shows that the application of AI, machine learning, and biotechnology not only significantly improves the efficiency of R&D but also provides new ideas for solving problems in conventional crop protection. This trend indicates that technological innovation will become the crop protection industry's core competence in the future. At the same time, cross-industry collaboration is undoubtedly the key path to achieving core competence.

2. Market expansion and channel collaboration

In the global crop protection industry, market expansion and channel collaboration have become key strategies for enterprises to enhance competitiveness and expand market share. By establishing cooperative relationships with professional partners or local companies, enterprises will not only quickly access new target markets or expand their influence in target markets but also optimize product layout, improve market penetration, and achieve mutual benefit on a win-win basis, with the help of partners’ resources and channel advantage.

Sipcam Nichino Brazil formed a partnership with the Brazilian market access specialist M2M Agro to strengthen its market access strategy for products such as herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides for sugarcane. Sino-Agri has become Nanjing Redsun's exclusive agent for the distribution of diquat dibromide in the Brazilian market. The two sides are deepening their collaboration to grow the Brazilian market and establish a standardized channel system. 

Belchim Crop Protection USA and Sipcam Agro USA announced a partnership, which enables Belchim USA to exclusively acquire and sell Sipcam Agro’s fungicide Minerva in the US market to promote the product for application to the U.S. sugar beet. The U.S. agrochemical company ExcelAg and Caribbean Chemicals, a Caribbean-based agricultural input distributor, reached a partnership to provide Caribbean agriculture with more innovative and environment-friendly planting solutions, which will enhance the sustainability of local agriculture.

The British Pangaea Biosciences announced an exclusive agreement with MILAGRO sp. z o.o. to distribute Booster™ in Poland; soon afterward, Pangaea Biosciences signed a new exclusive agreement with ODOX EU, JSC, under which ODOX EU, JSC is designated to sell all its products, including Booster™, in the Baltic and Scandinavia.

UPL’s partnership with Nantong CAC International enabled the promotion of cyproflanilide to more than 40 countries, which has optimized its product portfolio. This collaboration combines the product and technology strengths of both sides, leading to the achievement of mutual benefit via a synergistic effect. UPL has become an exclusive distributor of Synthesia Chemi for distribution in the Russian market, which is a consolidation of its product portfolio, optimization of product range, and marketing in the Russian agrochemical market. 

Sino-Agri reached a strategic collaboration with KingAgroot to launch the patented novel herbicide Jingjinkaili. The partnership integrates the superior resources of both parties, bringing about mutual benefit and a win-win result.

The US Aqua-Yield has partnered with WestLink Ag Group to distribute all company products through WestLink’s 42 retail outlets, expanding market coverage and increasing product credibility.

In the future, with the further integration of the global market, crop protection companies ought to optimize worldwide resource allocation and enhance market competitiveness to cope with the increasingly intensified market competition.

3. Corporate strategy and resource integration 

Through strategic collaboration and resource integration, enterprises are optimizing supply chain management to enhance market competitiveness. For example, UPL has partnered with Aarti Industries to set up a joint venture for the supply of specialty chemicals, supported by the two parties’ combined strengths in product and technology. This collaboration not only optimizes the allocation of resources but also enables mutual benefit and win-win results through synergies. 

Similarly, Nichino America signed a cross-licensing agreement with Sipcam Agro, whereby Nichino obtained the distribution rights for Sipcam’s fungicide Eject® while Sipcam obtained early access to Nichino’s acaricide/insecticide Fenpyroximate 5SC/5EC (fenpyroximate). The cross-licensing allows the two parties to optimize their product portfolio and enhance market competitiveness. This kind of collaboration not only optimizes the two parties’ product portfolios but also enhances their market competitiveness.

In Brazil, UPL and Bungay established the joint venture Sinova, a new agricultural materials distributor. This initiative fully reflects the importance of corporate strategy development and resource integration, aiming to optimize the operation process and further enhance market competitiveness via resource integration and strategic adjustment.

In addition, Clariant’s collaboration with Red River Specialties and Ferrar Quimica expanded its distribution network in the American agricultural sector. By partnering with local distributors, Clariant is able to better serve the American market and improve customer satisfaction.

4. Emerging technologies and collaboration with research institutions 

In 2024, the mode of collaboration in the crop protection industry continued to be innovative, expanding from conventional to emerging technologies and industry partnerships. In-depth collaboration between enterprises and scientific research institutions has become a new driving force for promoting industry development.

For example, Binnong Technology and BASF collaborate in various fields, including technology research and development, market development, and supply chain management. This kind of collaboration enhances the technical strength of the enterprises, optimizes the market layout, and enhances their overall competitiveness. 

Syngenta reached a strategic partnership with the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences on the research and development of tetflupyrolimet, which is of help to the promotion of the sustainable development of modern agriculture in China. Furthermore, Pilarquim has cooperated with Nankai University in the development of nano-pesticide technology, which improves the efficiency and environmental benefit of pesticide applications by reducing use amount and increasing efficiency. The application of this technology not only promotes the green transformation of crop protection but also creates a new source of growth for the industry.

These modes of collaboration demonstrate that integrating enterprises with scientific research institutions will facilitate the acceleration of technological innovation and market expansion, optimization of product portfolio, and enhancement of market competitiveness of enterprises. Going forward, with the deepening of collaboration between agrochemical enterprises and scientific research institutions, the crop protection industry is expected to usher in more opportunities for development.

5. Green crop protection and sustainable development

With the worldwide concern and emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, green crop protection technology has become an important direction of development of the crop protection industry. For example, Syngenta has partnered with Chengdu New Sun to promote the novel biological-chemical integrated crop protection technology, having developed the environment-friendly natural brassin lactone – Yishiban, etc. This collaboration not only falls in line with the sustainable development trend of global agriculture but also provides a new direction for the development of the crop protection industry. 

Furthermore, MagrowTec has collaborated with Certis Belchim to combine precision spraying technology with biological products, promoting sustainable agriculture development. This mode of collaboration not only improves the efficiency of pesticide use but also reduces the impact on the environment. Going forward, green crop protection and sustainable development are sure to become essential trends in the crop protection industry, which will promote the industry's growth in a more environmentally friendly and efficient way. 

Impact of collaboration and future trends 

In 2024, the multidimensional collaboration model in the crop protection industry had a far-reaching impact. It greatly promoted technological innovation, market expansion, green transformation, and resource integration, injecting new impetus into the industry's sustainable development.

1. Technological innovation and cross-industry integration  

The collaboration has significantly improved the R&D efficiency and innovation ability of the crop protection industry. The wide application of AI, big data, and biotechnology has extensively promoted the development of pest and disease prediction, precision farming, and green crop protection technologies. Through in-depth collaboration with technology companies, biotech companies, and scientific research institutions, the agrochemical enterprises have not only accelerated the process of product research and development but have also reduced the cost of operation, which is a contribution to the promotion of the green transformation of the industry.

Going forward, AI and big data technologies will play a more significant role in pest and disease prediction, precision farming, and product optimization. Biotechnologies such as gene editing and microbiomes are expected to facilitate the development of more environment-friendly and efficient crop protection products. The cross-industry collaboration will be further deepened as crop protection enterprises are prepared to cooperate with companies in material science, agricultural science, and technology to consolidate resources and accelerate research and innovation.

2. Importance of globalization and localization

Collaboration for globalization has optimized the market layout of agrochemical enterprises and enhanced their influence in emerging markets. Through collaboration with local companies, agrochemical enterprises are able to better adapt to local market demand, develop products that fit local regions, and enhance market competitiveness.

In the future, the trend of globalization will accelerate, and cross-border collaboration and resource integration will enable further optimization of the global market layout. Emerging markets, such as Brazil, China, India, and Southeast Asia, will become important drivers of the growth of the industry. At the same time, the importance of localization-oriented collaboration will become more prominent, whereby enterprises will be in a better position to serve local markets through localized research and production.

3. Strategic alliance and intensification of resource integration

Strategic alliances and resource integration have significantly improved enterprises’ operation efficiency and market competitiveness. Through collaboration with upstream and downstream industry players, scientific research institutions, and high-tech companies, agrochemical enterprises can optimize resource allocation to accelerate technological innovation and market expansion.

Going forward, the strategic alliance is bound to become more diversified, with well-established inter-company cooperative relationships among peers, upstream and downstream companies, scientific research institutions, and technology companies. Resource integration will be further deepened through acquisitions and collaboration, and enterprises will consolidate global resources to enhance market competitiveness.

4. Digital transformation and smart service

The application of digital technology in the crop protection industry has improved the operational efficiency and supply chain management of enterprises. Intelligent services have promoted the development of precision crop protection via the use of drones and sensors, which reduce resource waste and improve the sustainability of agricultural production.

Going forward, digital technology will play a greater role in crop protection. Blockchain, the Internet of Things, and big data technologies will facilitate the optimization of supply chain management and the improvement of product quality and safety; intelligent services will become an important direction of the industry's development, where drones, sensors, and intelligent agricultural equipment will promote precision crop protection and improve service efficiency and accuracy.

5. Green crop protection and sustainable development 

Promoting green crop protection technology enhances enterprises' market competitiveness and reflects their responsibility for sustainable development. By developing eco-friendly products and promoting green technologies, agrochemical enterprises can fulfill the market demand for sustainable agriculture while enhancing their social image.

In the days to come, with the global concern and emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, green crop protection technology will also become an important direction of the development of the industry; the development of green technology, such as nano pesticides, biologics, and precision spraying, will accelerate; the policy support of all governments to the sustainable development of agriculture will facilitate the further promotion and application of green crop protection technology.

This article was published in the magazine of 2024 Annual Review. Follow this magazine to read more articles/stories.

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