Evonik opens its first Applied Technology Center for agricultural markets in Central and South America

Evonik has opened its new Applied Technology Center (ATC) in Americana, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Combining new laboratories, access to two pilot plants, and infrastructure to support customer training, the new “Agro Hub” strengthens its Interface & Performance business line’s support and testing capabilities for its agriculture market customers in the region.

Interface & Performance’s agro business offers additives and adjuvants for conventional and biological agrochemical formulations under its BREAK-THRU^® brand. The broad portfolio of antifoams, dispersants, emulsifiers, oil enhancers, wetting agents, super-spreaders, and penetrants also includes biocompatible products for crop protection and seed treatments.

“The new collaborative environment enables us to quickly respond to our agro customers’ needs and changing market demands with customized solutions,” said Diego Abreu, Global Marketing Head of Evonik Interface & Performance's agricultural market segment. “We can provide customers with a complete technical service for pesticides and biopesticides formulations, further strengthening our commitment to becoming the prime partner to the Central & South America agricultural industry."

Biocompatible additives from Evonik improve biological crop protection formulations and enhancing sustainable yields in the fast-growing agricultural market in Central and South America. In particular, the shelf life of microbials is improved and the performance and stability of crop protection formulations increased. In the ATC, the agricultural team develops additives for biopesticides and bioinoculants for its customers in the region.

“We place great value on customer service and being close to our customers which helps us to understand their markets and support them every step of the way to develop the right conventional or biological solution,” said Lisa Roessler, Head Evonik Interface & Performances Agriculture and Functional Specialties product line. “Our team in Americana is fully equipped to develop new adjuvants and additives that improve the performance of agricultural products during application in the field.”

The new Brazil ATC is Evonik’s third regional “Agro Hub” after Marl in Germany, and Richmond in the US. Divided into three separate areas, the labs at the ATC include one for conventional adjuvants formulations, one for seed treatment using both conventional and biological active ingredients, and a microbiology lab for developing biological formulations using bacteria, fungi, and botanical extracts.

The new facility also has additional technical infrastructure and capacities for supporting customers from other sectors including construction, water-based adhesives, recycling markets, and in some cases, end-users of Evonik solutions.