AI and Machine Learning refine adjuvant development and use

Date:04-17-2025

Brazilian company Sell Agro presented findings demonstrating that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are refining the development and use of adjuvants. 

The information was released during the ISAA 2025 International Symposium, held in Rio de Janeiro and covered by AgroPages.

"The applications of AI and ML are endless, and each harvest season they gain more relevance and space in various operations and sectors of agribusiness. The development of product formulations is no different," stated Sell Agro, a specialist in Application Technology.

Traditional input formulations require several rounds of laboratory tests, field trials, and repetitive modifications, making the process resource-intensive and subject to uncertainties and variability.

To address this challenge, Sell Agro chemist and researcher Marcelo Hilário conducted the study presented at the ISAA 2025 International Symposium. He evaluated the application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) in the development of an emulsifiable oil-based adjuvant.

"We optimized formulations using ML-driven modeling, reducing reliance on traditional trial-and-error approaches. AI-powered predictive models improve performance forecasting, allowing researchers to anticipate stability, spray characteristics, and agrochemical interactions with greater accuracy," the specialist explained.

By integrating computational optimization techniques, Hilário's research demonstrated a 50% reduction in adjuvant development time, a 12% reduction in final product costs, a 10% increase in performance, and an acceleration in market readiness.

The researcher pointed out that the study concluded that AI integration generates:

- Reduced time to market by accelerating formulation optimization, cutting development time;

- Improved accuracy in field performance predictions, ensuring consistent efficacy across diverse agricultural conditions;

- Increased sustainability by minimizing excessive agrochemical use, reducing waste, spray drift, and environmental contamination.

Adjuvants are products that significantly improve the performance of agrochemical formulations by increasing the absorption, adhesion, and dispersion of active ingredients during applications on crops of different varieties. "This technology reduces spray drift, improving droplet retention, modifying spray solution properties, and thus increasing the overall effectiveness of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides," explained Hilário.

The ISAA International Symposium, which focuses on adjuvants, takes place every three years and brings together researchers from around the world. The last symposium took place in China in 2022, and this event provides participants with the opportunity to explore the latest trends in sustainability, innovation, and technological advancements in the agricultural solutions industry.

"We are the only genuinely Brazilian company to participate in this edition. This is certainly a source of great pride for Sell Agro," the Sell Agro researcher said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)