The Power of Partnership

Collaboration is vital to advancing crop protection

DR. SEVA ROSTOVTSEV

FOR CENTURIES, agricultural lands expanded to meet food demands. But there is a finite amount of land on earth. As the population increases, farmers need to achieve the greatest yield from the land that they farm. Innovative, sustainable crop protection solutions are essential to secure farmers’ livelihoods and produce affordable, nutritious food for a growing world population. At FMC, we play our part in feeding the world by providing farmers with innovative crop protection solutions that increase the productivity and resilience of their land. We are passionate about the power of science to solve agriculture’s biggest challenges. Innovation is deeply ingrained in our culture.

To meet the nutritional needs of nearly 9 billion people in the next decade, crop yields must increase. However, bringing more land into agricultural production will only contribute to climate change and put vital ecosystems at risk. Modernization in agriculture is critical to successfully address this challenge and ensure existing farmlands are healthy, productive, and sustainable for future generations of farmers. According to a recent study by AgbioInvestor and CropLife International, the discovery, development, registration, and commercialization of a new agrochemical product takes over 12 years on average. Time is of the essence. Innovation is key to minimizing time-to-market and helping us solve farmers’ problems quicker.

Advancing sustainable crop protection through partnerships, collaboration, and cutting-edge innovative approaches is vital for increasing productivity and ensuring food security. At FMC, we are investing in one of the agricultural industry’s most productive crop protection pipelines, featuring over 20 new active areas in discovery and 18 new active ingredients in development. We recently forged a multi-year research agreement with AgroSpheres, a biotechnology company pioneering breakthroughs in sustainable crop protection and crop health. AgroSpheres’ ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) technology silences vital genes of targeted pests, preventing off-target damage to non-harmful insects like pollinators. Paired with FMC’s testing, evaluation, and go-to-market capabilities, this collaboration signifies a major step towards sustainable agriculture through cutting-edge scientific innovation.

To meet the nutritional needs of nearly 9 billion people in the next decade, crop yields must increase. However, bringing more land into agricultural production will only contribute to climate change and put vital ecosystems at risk.

Innovation extends beyond biotechnology. FMC’s relationship with Optibrium, a leading developer of software and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for small molecule discovery, leverages machine learning to identify promising compounds and optimize their properties. By leveraging Optibrium’s expertise, FMC aims to create sustainable products that combat resistance and offer new ways to control harmful pests.

Collaborative efforts exist outside of industry partners, too. In 2023, the company began a multi-year relationship with the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University to develop plant sensor technology powered by a hyperspectral camera that will detect FMC formulations on the surface of a leaf. The objective is to use this capability to conduct rapid field analyses of FMC products on specific crops. Real-time measurements of how a formulation interacts with a plant will accelerate development timelines and support efforts to drive down application rates by applying the right amount of product in the right place at the right time.

Collaboration remains the cornerstone of sustainable crop protection innovation. As we navigate the complexities of feeding a growing population, joint efforts between R&D organizations in industry, academia and government will shape a more resilient and sustainable future.

Dr. Seva Rostovtsev is executive vice president and chief technology officer at FMC Corporation.