Exclusive interview: Albaugh aims to be world’s top 10 agrochemical company

In an exclusive interview with AgroPages, Renato Seraphim, President of Albaugh Brasil, has revealed the company’s plans to expand in Brazil and around the world, by strengthening its relationship with distributors, providing the best value generic products, and offering support to farmers.
 

AgroPages: What is the growth projection of Albaugh Brasil?
 

Our growth projections are very aggressive for the Brazilian market. Last year, even with a declining market, we grew by 50%. Over the next five years, we aim to make US$500 million, against revenue of $90 million in 2015 and $150 million in 2016.

 

What relevant actions are being planned and organised?
 

Our focus is operational excellence. We want to be an efficient company with the confidence to consistently deliver results for the farmer, by offering quality and cost-effective products. We want to boost our portfolio and enter new markets, such as sugarcane, as well as to work exclusively with strong and capable distributors, enabling farmers to obtain access to our solutions. We have re-modelled our strategy of market access while giving distributors the vital role of dealing with Brazilian farmers.

Currently, 30% of the sector’s sales are made directly from the industry to the end producers. With our vision, we will strengthen our distributors and offer farmers the maximum possible benefits. Albaugh has reinforced its field and support staff and invested heavily on increasing our production capacity, to increase our portfolio of technologies.

 

Albaugh is poised to enter the World’s Top 10 companies. What has led to this expansion?
 

Albaugh is an American company with its headquarters in Iowa. We are experts on generic products and we are proud of that. We want farmers to trust our generic products. Our goal is to be perceived by farmers as a trustworthy company that can supply them with good products. Technology is important to farmers, but they also need to balance its management with products with superior cost-benefits. When I say cost-benefits, I mean, being more efficient while providing the results that the farmers desire. Being a Top 10 company will promote our commitment to key countries, including the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. Albaugh is benefiting from strong investment and the consolidation of the agrochemicals market.

 

We have been officially in Brazil since August 2016, and we have achieved many successes as the Albaugh brand in the country. Our values are based on three central pillars – the supply of products for multiple crops and uses; greater efficiency of procedures and support for farmers; and guiding them on our portfolio of technologies, which can help them make the correct choices. Our work relies on the involvement and commitment of experienced professionals, who are passionate about agriculture.
 

What products are planned for launch soon?
 

We rely on a varied portfolio of products, which we will offer to Brazilian farmers in the coming years, including the launch of at least 18 products over the next five years. We are very confident about entering the protective fungicides market, as well as providing efficient technologies with excellent cost-benefit to farmers. It is impossible to control Asian soybean rust without the use of protective fungicides, and soon, we will launch a unique product to help farmers.