DSM in Crop protection: Creating the building blocks of life
We protect crops through custom manufacturing in herbicides, fungicides and insecticides that are smart, reliable and sustainable. We solve real problems for real people – from nourishing the world to helping fight malaria.
As the population of our planet grows, so its resources shrink. Since 1960, the world’s headcount has doubled to six billion people. Millions in the developing world now covert a western style diet (more dairy, more chicken). Yet, the amount of available arable land has remained virtually static at around 1.2 billion hectares for 50 years.
It’s all about doing more with less. To meet this need, DSM works with many of the major names in crop protection through our innovations in bio-chemistry (using natural enzymes) and ‘clean’ technologies like ozonolysis; as well as our advanced manufacturing innovations like the micro reactor.
When we say ‘working with’ we really mean it. DSM often shares chemistry and technical information – operating effectively as an extended part of our customer’s team.
Customized manufacturing
We provide the chemical ‘building blocks’ upon which the crop protection industry increasingly depends. And for inspiration we looked at everything from the rubber tree to the antibodies of insects.
This is all built on a strong foundation. At DSM we have a unique depth and breadth of chemical expertise that covers (in addition to standard chemistry) six chemical competencies: Biocatalysis, fermentation, homogenous catalysis, special reagents, oxidation and reduction, and continuous reactions. All this knowledge enables us to create both biologically active ingredients and their intermediates for our customers.
Furthermore, we can take a process from the lab into the plant - including debottlenecking processes that achieve higher daily throughputs and lower manufacturing cost. In the longer term we offer route scouting to find next-generation processes, especially crucial for second-generation crop protection products where patents have expired (thus opening the door to ‘generic’ competitors).
Unique, green technologies
Biochemistry and biocatalysts are increasingly on our agenda – which is why we now offer a green chemistry toolbox for crop protection.
There’s another way we’re driving greener processes: Through micro reactors - especially when hazardous reagents are used and much heat is generated. By using micro reactors instead of standard large-scale reactors we have optimized the chemical process with no harmful bi-products and a higher quality end product. And all this at reduced environmental and commercial cost.
By the way, did you know that DSM’s KhepriCoat ™ anti-reflective coating technology also contributes not just to crop protection, but crop expansion? Used for greenhouses, KhepriCoat ™ transmits more sunlight through glass, thus improving the nourishment of plants. Fancy that…
