Stabilizers and carriers for low-water agrochemical formulations | Agriculture

Stabilizers and carriers for low-water agrochemical formulations

Background
What we're looking for
What we can offer you
Who we are
Q&A

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Background

Transporting water-heavy products is increasingly seen as inefficient and unsustainable, both from an environmental and economic perspective. Concentrated formulations offer a more resource-conscious alternative, reducing packaging, freight weight, and overall transport impact. For agricultural inputs, this shift could also translate into better value for end users who shouldn't have to pay to move unnecessary water.

However, reducing water content in liquid agrochemical formulations presents significant challenges. As concentration increases, so does the risk of instability, including ingredient incompatibility, precipitation, phase separation, and changes in viscosity or flow. While these issues are well recognized in formulation science, solutions tailored to low-water agrochemical systems remain underexplored.

Technologies that can enable high-performance, low-water formulations could reshape how agricultural products are manufactured, transported, and used.

What we're looking for

We are looking for novel stabilizers, carriers, and compatible co-formulants that can enable low-water agrochemical formulations without compromising product efficacy, shelf life, or ease of application once diluted for use. While the team is already well-versed in conventional stabilizers, emulsifiers, and formulation strategies, the focus here is on emerging or differentiated technologies, particularly those designed to maintain formulation stability and compatibility at higher concentrations or lower water content. We also welcome solutions from adjacent industries (e.g. personal care, pharma, food) that could be translated into the agricultural space.

Solutions of interest include:

Stabilizers: micellar systems, hydrotropes, colloidal stabilizers, dispersing agents
Emulsifiers: non-ionic surfactants, polymeric emulsifiers, oil-in-water stabilizers
Encapsulation or carrier systems: polymer-based carriers, protein carriers, cyclodextrins, lipid-based systems
Co-solvent systems: glycols, glycerol blends, ethanol-water systems, plant-derived solvents
Compatibilizers: amphiphilic molecules, solubilizers, anti-crystallization agents
Rheology modifiers: xanthan gum, modified celluloses, associative thickeners
Structured liquid or gel systems: smart hydrogels, matrix systems, liquid-liquid dispersions

Our must-have requirements are:

Enables reduction of water content (%?) without loss of formulation performance
Safe for use on common field and orchard crops (e.g., corn, soy, citrus, apples)
Expected compatibility with liquid formulations
Expected formulation stability with a shelf life of at least 2–3 years under standard storage conditions

What's out of scope:

Substances classified as hazardous, persistent, bio-accumulative, or toxic (PBT) under REACH or TSCA
Ingredients flagged on global regulatory watchlists or blacklists (e.g. REACH Annex XVII, SVHC)
Volatile solvents or components
Materials that are strongly gelling or overly thickening (impairs sprayability)

Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):

Levels 5-7