In the world of crop protection, the active ingredients in products are what dominate much of the discussion—and for good reason. At the most basic level, active ingredients are the molecules that effectively control target pests. However, active ingredients are rarely, if ever, applied to crops independently. Doing so would be akin to eating pure sugar instead of candy, says Andrew Pearson, formulation and analytical development manager at Syngenta. Growers can only fully realize the potency and efficacy of these molecules when scientists deliver active ingredients within carefully designed formulations.
“Our formulation chemists and engineers focus on delivering an active ingredient—or multiple active ingredients, as is often the case—into a convenient product for the customer,” says Pearson. “Not only does the chemistry need to be effective against the target weed, insect or disease growers are looking to manage, but we need to formulate it in such a way that the product is safe and convenient for the applicator to handle.”
Formulation 201
It should come as no surprise that formulating crop protection technologies has become increasingly complex in recent years. As certain insects, weeds and pathogens have adapted to molecules once used to control them, delivering additional modes of action in a single product—via multiple active ingredients—has become imperative.
Adding to this complexity is the fact that the active ingredients within a formulation often differ in form or property. Combining solids and liquids, for example, is a typical challenge chemists and engineers face.
“Any time we are developing a formulation with at least one solid active ingredient and one liquid active ingredient, the process is difficult, because degradation is natural in that state,” says Matthew Cottle, group leader for herbicide formulation development at Syngenta. It is, as he says, a matter of making the incompatible compatible.
“When you really think about it, a lot of what formulation chemists and engineers do is fight gravity, by manipulating how solids and liquids interact,” adds Adam Voisard, a formulation engineer at Syngenta.
Engineering Success
Developing a formulation in a beaker is one thing, but producing enough of it to fill large-capacity storage tanks is another. After formulation chemists develop a recipe for a specific chemistry, formulation engineers scale up production.
“It’s the chemists who have the concept,” says Felisha Vestal, manager of the Technology Finished Product Process group at Syngenta. “As formulation engineers, we help realize that concept.”
To preserve the original formulation’s performance and quality during large-scale production, the formulation engineers may adjust certain operational elements—like mixing speed or the order in which ingredients are added. Rigorous formulation testing efforts also help make sure the product growers receive can stand up to multiple real-world scenarios, such as exposure to hot and cold temperatures, transportation, tank-mixing with other products, and use with various types of bulk and spray equipment.
“The real world has a lot of curveballs, so it’s important to anticipate how those challenges might affect the product’s performance and usability,” says Voisard.
Staying Relevant
The formulation team’s work doesn’t end after product registration. Syngenta continuously looks for ways to improve existing formulations, as is evident in its growing product pipeline. For example, upon registration, the company’s Force Evo insecticide will be compatible with starter fertilizers. Additionally, it will have excellent cold tolerance and improved flowability and cleanout. This easier-to-load liquid formulation is also well-suited for high-speed planters.
While the development of a new formulation is nothing short of a scientific triumph, the premise of the formulation team’s work remains simple, says Xinyun Wen, a Syngenta formulation chemist: “Our goal has always been to develop products and new solutions that meet customer needs.”
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of Syngenta's Thrive magazine. It also appears in the November 2016 issue of Potato Grower.