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- What we're looking for
- What we can offer you
- Who we are
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Background
Increasing regulatory requirements are making the development of a novel herbicide prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. In contrast, adapting existing herbicides to increase performance or to enhance selectivity can result in new uses of existing products with substantially lower development costs and faster market entry.
What we're looking for
We are looking for innovative ideas that enable existing herbicides to be used in new ways through improvements in performance, selectivity, novel combinations, formulation stability or handling (residual control, reduced leaching, and minimized off-target effects). Potential solutions may include, but are not limited to, the use of crop safeners, herbicide encapsulation, formulants, adjuvants, synergists, tank-mix partners and soil behavior modifiers.
Solutions of interest include:
- Crop safeners to increase the range of crops a herbicide can be used in, or to increase usage options within an existing crop, such as allowing post-emergence applications or higher application rates.
- Herbicide encapsulation (or similar formulation advances) to increase crop safety by controlling the release of the active ingredient, to allow co-formulation of incompatible active ingredients, or to extend residual weed control performance in the soil.
- Soil behavior modifiers such as formulants, adjuvants, adsorbents, stabilizers, and soil conditioners to improve handling performance, by controlling the release rate, reducing mobility, extending the active life, adjusting environmental interactions, reducing soil leaching, and/or ensuring more even dispersion within the soil matrix.
- Enhancers or synergists to improve performance
Our must-have requirements are:
- Any formulation changes or additives should have a reason to believe it can be easily approved by the EPA or have a clear pathway to approval.
- Any formulation changes or additives should demonstrate a reasonable potential to be cost-effective at scale.
Our nice-to-have's are:
- Solutions involving formulation components that are presently EPA approved.
- Solutions that do not drastically increase application rate, e.g. current herbicide is applied at 30 fl oz/A but new version would need to be applied at 90 fl oz/A.
What's out of scope:
- Trait-enabled solutions that involve modifying or enhancing the genetic traits of crops.
Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):
Levels 4-9
What we can offer you
Eligible partnership models:
Sponsored researchCo-developmentLicensing
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding is proposal dependent, but an accepted proposal may receive support in the range of 50,000 - 200,000 USD (milestone dependent) with the potential for follow on funding.Expertise
Successful applicants will work with the UPL Global Lead for new Herbicide Technologies to manage the project.Facilities and Services
Successful applicants will have access to UPLs global network of research stations and greenhouse/lab facilities to conduct research year-round.Tools and Technologies
Available analytical capabilities include:
• Active ingredient quantitation
• In vitro/in vivo efficacy evaluation
• Targeted biomarker quantitation
• Oligonucleotide sequence verification and purity analysis
• Untargeted metabolomics of biological products and tissues
• Mode of action assays
• Chemical synthesis
• Chromatographic isolation, purification, identification of compounds of interestWho we are
At UPL we are on a mission to Reimagine Sustainability for farmers and food systems – feeding the world while nurturing the planet. Each and every member of our team is making a difference – to our company’s growth, to our industry’s success, and to our sustainable food future. Our employees and teams reflect the diversity of our customers, the regions in which we operate, and the societies we serve.
Learn moreReviewers
BN
Ben Van Nostran
Global Marketing Head - Herbicides
FL
Florent Lapage
Global Portfolio Manager - Herbicides
KR
Kathryn Ruddy
Global Portfolio Manager
RK
Rodrigo Koriama
Global Product Manager
RH
Ryan Henry
Herbicide Development Manager
HS
Henry-york Steiner
Global Regulatory Manager
KC
Kalpesh Chokashi
Mangar Formulation Research and Development
RK
Ramesh Kaliyaperumal
Project Manager
Q&A with UPL
The Q&A is now closed.
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Most upvoted
Q.
How does the IP works with the company that gives the Grant, if everything that is developed will belong to UPL? I remain attentive to the terms of IP.
LB
August 13, 2024
4
A.
Hi Luis. IP would be negotiated between UPL and the technology provider on a case-by-case basis. IP discussions wouldn't occur until we have met with the provider and obtained enough information about the technology to decide if a partnership will be created.
Thanks for reaching out to us,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
August 19, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Hello, does the herbicide technology need to target a specific weed affecting a specific crop (rice, wheat, maize, etc)? Thank you!
2
A.
Hi Carolina. Thanks for your interest in our request. No, we are not targeting a specific weed or a specific crop. Its actually better if the technology controls a wider range of weeds and can be used in a wider range of crops.
Regards,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
September 9, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Could you kindly elaborate on the expected benefit return structure? Specifically, we are interested in understanding how both parties can commercially benefit from such collaboration?
SS
October 7, 2024
1
A.
Hi Sophie. The IP, commercial and research cost sharing between UPL and our partner companies will depend on several factors including the technology under consideration, how close to commercialization the technology is and the target market (crop and region).
If your technology meets the criteria of our request our first step would be to have a meeting, usually without a non-disclosure agreement, where we would have a general discussion. If we proceed the next step would be to enter into more advanced negotiations which would address things like development timeline, IP and commercial aspects and would involve agreements to address these areas.
If you have a technology that meets the conditions of the Herbicide enabling technologies request, please submit and we can go from there.
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
October 11, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Will the IP generated from this collaboration be commercially exclusive to our partners, or is there an opportunity for shared ownership between our teams?
SS
October 7, 2024
1
A.
Hi Sophie. The handling of IP would be negotiated between UPL and your company and would meet the requirements of both parties depending upon the commercial agreement that is developed.
Let me know if you need any more information,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
October 11, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Hi,
Are the funding eligible for indirect costs?
Thank you
1
A.
Hi Christophe. The handling of research costs would be negotiated as part of the development agreement. The specifics would depend on the technology and how close to being commercially ready it is.
If you have a technology that fits our request for a herbicide enabling technology please submit and we can follow up.
Thanks for your interest,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
October 11, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
Are you seeking pre-developed formulations or technologies that can be directly applied or are you open to collaborative formulation optimisation?
DH
October 10, 2024
1
A.
Hi Dan. We would consider either pre-existing formulations or working together to co-development a formulation. A pre-existing formulation may be slightly preferable; however, we have formulation expertise so could develop formulations if needed.
Let me know if you need more information,
Art
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
October 14, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
Q.
I am planning to submit a proposal on herbicide encapsulation technologies. Would we be expected to use a model herbicide or UPL's active ingredient?
1
A.
Hi Tahira. If you do not already have an encapsulated herbicide formulation we can suggest an active (or active ingredients) that we would be interested in encapsulating. Please submit a description of your encapsulation technology and any formulations you have developed to the Halo platform.
FE
Former Employee, Global Research Lead - Weeds, UPL
October 28, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
A.
Thanks, Arthur! This sounds reasoanble.
1
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