Valent U.S.A. launches new science-based framework to help growers advance sustainable agricultural production

Valent U.S.A. LLC has announced a new product assessment framework with specific criteria that enables the company to evaluate and define ″sustainable solutions″ across its broad portfolio of agricultural products. The new framework, called the Sustainable Solutions Criteria, is designed to help growers and customers attain a more sustainable agricultural crop production operation.

The criteria is part of Valent’s and parent company Sumitomo Chemical’s commitment to advance sustainable agriculture through innovative products, practices and solutions that benefit agriculture, the environment and society.

Using relevant U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guide, the criteria covers sustainable agriculture practices grouped under the three pillars of people, planet, and productivity. The criteria is grounded in science and features eight distinguishable icons that demonstrate key sustainable practices and attributes, which are then applied to Valent’s current and future portfolio of conventional, biorational and botanical product solutions.

The company will incorporate these icons in a variety of digital and print materials and tools that field technology and sales representatives can use to assist growers and customers in achieving higher levels of sustainability performance in their operations.

"We are honored to work alongside growers and customers to continually learn, improve and enable sustainable agriculture and its societal benefits," said Matt Plitt, president and CEO, Valent U.S.A. "We're excited to integrate our criteria within our R&D platform to increase innovative and sustainable solutions in our product pipeline and address what growers need best to achieve their sustainability objectives."

The criteria was developed by an internal cross-functional team that evaluated detailed science-based regulatory reviews by external independent authorities, peer-reviewed literature, as well as field evaluations by agricultural extension services to identify key product qualities and their contributions to sustainable agriculture.

A third-party review of the criteria was conducted by SCS Consulting, a global firm with expertise in helping organizations implement credible sustainability strategies, processes, and guidance.