SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 2005
STP11972S

Rising to New Challenges in Formulating for Agriculture

Source

Today's formulator of agricultural products is barraged with a host of increasing challenges. They are faced with the need to develop more profitable differentiated products in shorter product cycles with fewer resources, and in the face of increasingly crowded patent landscapes and shifting regulatory environments. Consolidation among agricultural manufacturers is driven by financial requirements to grow market share while at the same time reduce costs to improve profitability. Unfortunately, corresponding consolidation and cost reduction has resulted in narrowing of technical focus and reduction in technical resources available for new product development so there is increasing pressure for differentiation from intense competition between fewer, larger suppliers in many markets. This focus on fewer products and the corresponding need to protect investments has concentrated the intellectual property field. Overlaid on this, regulatory issues including new rules on existing products, also apply growing pressure on formulators as threats to viability of formulae. Technologies offering higher rates of first pass success, troublefree operation, and “future proofing” against component loss offer advantages in addressing challenges. High success rate approaches feature experimental design techniques when developing robust formulations and development of differentiated products uses selection criteria that address current and anticipated needs. The needs reflect regulatory and toxicological considerations in addition to physical performance and are met by selecting low risk and broadly effective inert ingredients.

Author Information

Lindner, GJ
Uniqema Crop Protection, New Castle, DE
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: E35
Pages: 3–8
DOI: 10.1520/STP11972S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5504-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-3485-0