Chr. Hansen is joining forces with global agricultural solutions provider UPL in a unique partnership to strengthen the existing portfolio of microbial products and provide farmers with sustainable choices beyond conventional agricultural products.
Biological solutions are becoming more and more in demand as the agriculture industry faces challenges such as the growing resistance to chemicals and an increasingly challenging regulatory environment. Developing biostimulants and biopesticides is an important step in providing sustainable crop protection while increasing farmers’ yield and productivity.
The best of both worlds
Under the terms of the partnership, Chr. Hansen will develop biological products based on their microbial capabilities and UPL will register and commercialize these products via its extensive global distribution network.
According to Vicente Gongora, chief marketing officer at UPL Ltd., “Biosolutions are a core pillar of our global purpose and work to reimagine sustainability – for food systems, for farmers, and for our environment. Building on the launch of NPP [Natural Plant Protection – a new global business unit] earlier in the year, we are proud to partner with Chr. Hansen to further expand our portfolio of products and technologies – and to offer new and sustainable solutions for more farming communities.
Consolidating our distribution networks and R&D facilities alongside Chr. Hansen’s unique microbial experience and expertise presents a powerful opportunity to change the game for farmers and for sustainable agriculture globally. We look forward to sharing more news on the biological solutions that we are developing for the future, and we are excited about the legacy we will build together.”
“UPL is a significant distributor of biosolutions worldwide,” says Kim Müller Christensen, vice president of Plant Health at Chr. Hansen. “Combining that with Chr. Hansen’s significant innovations in research and development, as well as our unique microbial capabilities and ability to breed our own bacteria, will mean better, targeted products that can go to market faster. The partnership is an important step in our 2025 strategy of growing a better world naturally.”
In the best interests of farmers
The Chr. Hansen-UPL partnership has already identified several projects relevant to farmers globally and aims to develop a product pipeline for most major crops that will enable farmers to fight crop diseases and increase their yields. The companies expect the first registrations by the end of 2022.
“In essence the collaboration aims to establish a product pipeline that has the best interests of the famers at heart,” says Kim Müller Christensen.
About UPL
UPL Ltd. (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070) is a global provider of sustainable agriculture products & solutions, with annual revenue exceeding $5 billion. We are a purpose-led company. Through OpenAg, UPL is focused on facilitating progress for the entire agricultural value chain. We are building a network that redefines the way an entire industry thinks and works – open to fresh ideas, innovative ways and new answers as we strive towards our mission to make every single food product more sustainable.
As one of the largest agriculture solutions companies worldwide, our robust portfolio consists of biologicals and traditional crop protection solutions with more than 13,600 registrations. We are present in more than 130 countries, represented by more than 10,000 colleagues globally. For more information about our integrated portfolio of solutions across the food value chain including seeds, post-harvest, as well as physical and digital services, please visit upl-ltd.com.
Chr. Hansen is a global, differentiated bioscience company that develops natural ingredient solutions for the food, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. At Chr. Hansen we are uniquely positioned to drive positive change through microbial solutions. We have worked for almost 150 years to enable sustainable agriculture, better food and healthier living for more people around the world. Our microbial and fermentation technology platforms, including our broad and relevant collection of around 50,000 microbial strains, have game-changing potential. Matching customer needs and global trends we continue to unlock the power of good bacteria to respond to global challenges such as food waste, global health and the overuse of antibiotics and pesticides. As one of the world’s most sustainable companies, we touch the lives of more than 1 billion people every day. Driven by our legacy of innovation and curiosity to pioneer science, our purpose – To grow a better world. Naturally. – is at the heart of everything we do.