Solving Agrochemical Formulation Challenges: New Technologies for Crop Protection Companies

In the fast-evolving world of agriculture, formulation innovation is no longer optional—it’s essential. Agrochemical companies are under pressure to deliver crop protection products that are not only effective but also sustainable, user-friendly and compliant with increasingly complex regulations. Yet, many still face persistent formulation challenges that delay development, limit product performance or hinder market access.  

Explore how advanced formulation technologies are addressing these challenges by enabling new product formats, enhancing stability and facilitating multi-active combinations that were previously unattainable. 

The Challenge: Formulating for a New Era of Crop Protection 

Today’s formulation demands go far beyond basic efficacy. Crop protection companies must continuously evolve to meet growing and increasingly complex demands. They must now address: 

• Resistance management through multi-active combinations 
• Farmer preferences for liquid, easy-to-use products 
• Regulatory pressure to replace ingredients of concern 
• Sustainability goals that require lower application rates and safer chemistries 
• Compatibility with biologicals, micronutrients and adjuvants 
• Market demands through portfolio diversification 

Traditional formulation approaches often fall short, especially when dealing with complex co-formulations, such as sulfonylureas, glyphosate or glufosinate, combined with a co-herbicide. 

Battelle’s proprietary technologies are designed to solve the toughest challenges in agrochemical product development. Whether you're working with chemical actives, biologicals, microbials, plant extracts or semiochemicals, we help you transform them into stable, high-performance formulations that meet regulatory, environmental and market demands. 

Solution 1: Liquid Sulfonylureas with Banyan Technology™ 

The Problem: Sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides have long been restricted to water-dispersible granules (WG), limiting formulation flexibility and farmer convenience. Liquid formats have been considered chemically unstable—until now. 

The Innovation: Banyan Technology™ changes that paradigm by enabling liquid, chemically stable and highly efficacious SU formulations, unlocking new product formats and combinations. Banyan Technology™ introduces a new class of stabilizers that enable SU herbicides to be formulated as stable liquids, including oil dispersions (OD), emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and soluble concentrates (SL). 

What It Solves:

• Enables multi-active liquid combinations with other herbicides or adjuvants 
• Delivers farmer-preferred formats that are easier to dilute and apply 
• Improves chemical stability with proprietary stabilizers designed specifically SU herbicides.  
• Supports sustainability by reducing application rates without sacrificing efficacy due to adjuvant effects of the oil phase. 

Explore more in our case study: “Groundbreaking Formulation Technology for Sulfonylureas” or download the “Banyan Technology Presentation” for deeper insights. 
This technology is not only scientifically advanced—it’s also practical and commercially viable. Products formulated with Banyan Technology™ are already available on the market, demonstrating their proven effectiveness and readiness for real-world application. 

Solution 2: Co-Formulating Glyphosate & Glufosinate with PhycoLink™ 

The Problem: The rise of glyphosate-resistant weeds, the need for multiple modes of action, and the demand for convenience have created a need for co-formulated herbicide products that combine glyphosate or glufosinate with other actives and performance-enhancing additives. Co-formulating glyphosate or glufosinate with other herbicides has been notoriously difficult due to stability issues, especially in high-surfactant, high-electrolyte environments.  

The Innovation: PhycoLink™ enables stable, concentrated liquid formulations of glyphosate or glufosinate with water-insoluble suspended herbicides and high surfactant loads, previously thought unachievable. Using novel surfactant vesicle structures, PhycoLink™ suspends solids and emulsions in high electrolyte solutions without compromising stability.  

• Supports resistance management with multiple modes of action in one product 
• Enhances weed control in glyphosate/glufosinate-resistant crops 
• Improves convenience by eliminating the need for tank-mixing 
• Allows incorporation of performance-enhancing additives such as oils, micronutrients, fertilizers and drift-reduction agents. 
• Enhances operational efficiency by reducing packaging, storage and transportation costs. 

Formulation Technologies Backed by Scientific Expertise 

Choosing the right formulation technology depends on active ingredient properties, compatibility, application method, operator safety, and environmental impact. Battelle’s team brings deep expertise across a wide range of pesticide formulation technologies, including: 

• Capsule suspensions (CS) 
• Emulsions (ES) 
• Microemulsions (ME) 
• Soluble concentrates (SL) 
• Flowable concentrates (SC) 
• Water-dispersible powders (WP) for biological seed treatments 

Our internal R&D not only enhances client support but also drives the development of proprietary, patented technologies that give our partners a competitive edge. 

How Battelle Can Help 

At Battelle, we support agrochemical product development by combining advanced formulation technologies with deep scientific expertise. Our mission is to help you bring more effective, sustainable and market-ready products to life, while supporting long-term environmental and economic sustainability across the agricultural value chain. 

Our formulation development team includes senior scientists with 25–40 years of experience in multinational R&D. We offer: 

• Complete new formulation development 
• Novel combination formulations 
• Alternative or complementary approaches to in-house R&D 
• Validation of new sources of active ingredients or inerts 
• Substitution of ingredients under regulatory scrutiny 
• Manufacturing support and troubleshooting 
• GLP-compliant physico-chemical and analytical studies to support global regulatory submissions (EU, US EPA, and beyond). 

Why Partner with Battelle? 

We bring unmatched scientific rigor and a legacy of innovation to every formulation challenge. We don’t compete in the crop protection market, we support those who do. Our role is to help you: 

• Accelerate product development 
• Differentiate with proprietary technologies 
• Meet evolving regulatory and sustainability demands 

Whether you're reformulating an existing pesticide product or developing something entirely new, Battelle is your partner in pushing the boundaries of agrochemical formulation. 

A One-Stop Solution for Formulation Development 

Unlike labs offering limited services, Battelle provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution for the development of conventional, biological and seed treatment products. From concept to final formulation and regulatory submission, our multidisciplinary teams—including formulators, microbiologists, analytical chemists and regulatory experts—collaborate to deliver integrated solutions. 

All our laboratories are GLP-compliant, ensuring the highest quality data for regulatory submissions. We offer flexible business models, including fee-for-service and IP-based formulation technologies, to meet your strategic needs. 

Partner with Battelle to streamline development, reduce time to market and gain a competitive edge in the global crop protection industry.