Health, safety, and environmental concerns are driving the use of microencapsulation technology as a formulation option in pesticide markets, reveals new research
The European Review of Plant Protection Products may well be playing a part in increased use of microencapsulation technology in the pesticide sector, with the market value of all products using the technology likely to double in the next five years. Gordon McManus, research analyst with Frost and Sullivan explains: "It might be argued that as the European Review of Plant Protection Products actually starts to pick up pace, with a realistic time frame for its completion in sight, the technology is being used purely to defend some products and ensure their continued use on the market.
However there are undoubtedly a number of other factors at play in its increased use." "Several new products using Capsule Suspension (CS) formulations have been introduced in recent years and most of the market leaders have plans to introduce more.
Advances in the technology, particularly on a large industrial scale, are resulting in better quality encapsulations for lower cost, which is raising the profile of the technology in the industry.
In addition, companies are reformulating products to protect them from generic competition.
Patent extension is a possibility and if the whole market can be converted to using the new formulations, it makes it harder for generic competitors to effectively penetrate the market, with what might be seen as an out of date formulation." For insecticides the most common problem in human toxicity and microencapsulation can reduce the contact of active ingredients with humans - particularly in applicator exposure tests.
For herbicides, environmental problems are more common and microencapsulation can help reduce this effect by, for example, reducing run-off rates.
The improvements made in microencapsulation techniques - particularly in scaling up to production levels means it is being accepted as a solution to the current legislative issues.
Syngenta is undoubtedly the company showing most innovation in this field, with a new 'quick release' CS formulation, which reduces toxicity to the applicator and the environment, whilst providing the rapid knock-down effect of an EC formulation.
This is the first report to give an overview of the microencapsulation industry throughout Europe with market share and competitor analysis.
Within the report there is a dedicated chapter which analyses the potential for each application area in terms of relative market attractiveness, degree of competition and relative market accessibility (eg an assessment of the barriers to entry) and makes strategic recommendations for market participants.
The report is segmented into the following application areas: agrochemicals, cosmetics ingredients, food ingredients, printing and paper applications, adhesives, and textiles.
