Top Companies to Watch for 2023
1 January 2023 As the global ag inputs and ag tech landscape continues to evolve, innovation, investment, and regional insight are shaping where the industry is headed next. To spotlight the companies gaining momentum across key segments, AgriBusiness Global asked three respected industry experts—CS Liew, Melinda McCann, and Nicolas Potrie—to share their picks for the top companies to watch in 2023. Spanning crop protection, adjuvants and inerts, biologicals, and ag tech, their selections offer a global perspective on the businesses driving change and opportunity across agriculture.
CROP PROTECTION
Willowood
INDIA
“From being a global supplier of formulated pesticide products for many years, Willowood recently invested $60 million in new production facilities to make 18 technicals. They also invested $20 million in a state-of-the-art research and development facility three years ago. In the manufacturing of technicals, at least four molecules will be backward integrated, which means they will be independent of China for supplies of key raw materials and intermediates.” — Liew
UPL
INDIA, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES
“I have seen large shifts in this company’s business approach since the acquisition of Arysta LifeScience in 2018. With their base pesticide manufacturing based in India, they expanded and launched in 2020 the OpenAg Center that offers new solutions to increase productivity and sustainability. In 2021, UPL expanded with a new business unit called Natural Plant Protection focusing on biosolutions. With this new focus on sustainability, and the new CEO of Global Crop Protection Mike Frank, I am looking forward to seeing what UPL will do next.” — McCann
Tecnomyl
PARAGUAY
“With more than 30 years of history in Mercosur countries, Tecnomyl has a stable team and direction for expansion. They have also been innovative with post-patent products and increasing growth of agrobusiness in the region of Mercosur, and other countries like Bolivia. Their formulation plant is in the free trade zone in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, and they have some registrations in Brazil. Another advantage is its alliance with sister company Agrofertil for the Paraguayan and Brazilian markets, which increases their fertilizer business, increasing stability.” — Potrie
ADJUVANTS/INERTS
Vicchem
AUSTRALIA
“This company has a wide product range that includes spray adjuvants, wetting agents, soil adjuvants, an organic insecticide, a growth regulator, and bloat control products. Applications include broadacre cropping, horticulture, cotton, and pastoral. They were established in Melbourne, Australia in 1933, and have strong business relationships with key Australian distributors of agricultural products and work with industry partners and customers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.” — Liew
Stepan
UNITED STATES
“Stepan opened a new Agricultural Innovation Center in the U.S. state of Georgia. In this one location, they can test formulations on plants and for driftable fines. They also have a training center showcasing their technology and can bring customers in to work on their formulation challenges together. It’s a great way to focus on their customers and their needs. Looking forward to observing how this center can bring forward innovation to formulations that will change the market.” — McCann
MicroXisto
BRAZIL
“Opening in Brazil in 1999, this company provides solutions to vegetal nutrition, based on the xisto stone, that produces the xisto extract. They have agreements with the state oil company, Petrobras, and did several field tests with the government agency, EMBRAPA, over the past 25 years. Currently, they have more than 100 branches across Brazil and overseas. They have products to support Brazil’s different crops growing in various weather conditions and production cycles. With their three product lines, Nano, Aqua, and Bio, they have a broad and innovative portfolio.” — Potrie
BIOLOGICALS
Sri BioAesthetics
INDIA
“Established in Hyderabad, India in 2018, this company’s founder sold a similar biologicals business to Valagro, which in turn got sold to Syngenta in 2021. Therefore, this company has a high degree of credibility and great know-how in this field. With new multi-million-dollar plants and labs about to be completed, and a strong research and development focus, they are poised to go global and be a force in the rapidly growing biostimulants and biopesticides sectors.” — Liew
Certis Biologicals
UNITED STATES
“Certis Biologicals is expanding their development personnel in the field after their approval for Isaria fumosorosea. North America is a tough region for biologicals, as conventional pesticides still outperform at a lower price tag, but with the company’s 2020 change in leadership, I am looking forward to seeing how Certis accelerates their pipeline to address the need for biologicals that can address pest management in the market.” — McCann
Surcos
ARGENTINA
“Surcos, led by Sebastian Calvo, started the development of new technologies in the field of phytosanitary products. The company’s nanotechnology works with agrochemicals formulations to minimize the use of petroleum-derived solvents and improve the efficiency of active ingredients. The most innovative companies dedicate time to researching, registering in different countries, field testing, and working with current agrochemicals. The most important goal in agriculture is to create a positive impact on the environment, while also increasing yield and quality, and companies like Surcos are leading the way with this innovation.” — Potrie
AG TECH
XAG
CHINA
“XAG is dedicated to bringing drones, robots, autopilot, artificial intelligence, and internet-of-things into the world of agricultural production. The company has its technology and services across 42 countries. They are constantly innovating, making them a major force in the growing ag tech sector.” — Liew
Enko
UNITED STATES
“Enko received another round of funding in 2022 and is one of the few start-ups in the industry that focus on crop protection. Using drug discovery and development approaches with artificial intelligence, DNA-encoded libraries, and machine learning, Enko is bringing ag tech innovation to discover and develop new pesticides. As we meet more challenges each year with existing pesticides, it is important to keep the discovery pipeline full of options. After the announcements of collaborations with Bayer, Nufarm, and Syngenta, I am looking forward to seeing what exciting crop protection products come out of these collaborations.” — McCann
GeoAgro
ARGENTINA
“Climate change is a huge challenge for agricultural business. Ag tech can assist by reducing waste, increasing crop yields, and consolidating resources. Using new technologies is top priority in agricultural business solutions. GeoAgro provides agricultural services, such as productivity maps, sowing and application maps, and yield maps for Latin American growers. The geo reports for each farm that is member of this program can share their information with the network. This helps each user to have more options and more experience in each crop plantation.” — Potrie.
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