"I have learnt more about this remarkable industry this evening than I did when I was Minister for the Environment," claimed Gyles Brandreth, the celebrity, author and former politician hosting the inaugural Agrow Awards, held on October 16 in Glasgow.
DuPont's Crop Protection and Pioneer Hi-Bred businesses received three prestigious Agrow Awards in recognition of its innovative and industry-leading agricultural product pipeline and technologies. When presenting DuPont with the award for best R&D pipeline, Paul French from sponsor SynTech Research noted how its pipeline included potential blockbuster agrochemical products and agricultural biotechnology traits, and diversity in early- stage research.
The best new crop protection product was Monsanto's genetically modified insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant YieldGard VT Triple. When announcing the winner, Lucy Croucher from sponsor JSC, commented on the product's sell-out performance in its launch year.
Dow AgroSciences received the award for the best formulation innovation for EcoZome, although it lost out to DuPont's insecticide, Rynaxypyr, in the contest for most innovative chemistry.
CropLife Canada received the accolade of best stewardship programme for stewardshipfirst, recognising how it has actively developed a comprehensive approach to product stewardship focusing on the responsible and ethical management of its products for over 20 years.
Phil Jarvis, publisher of Agrow, presented United Phosphorus with the award for best company from an emerging region. United Phosphorus only entered Agrow's ranking of the top 20 agrochemical companies two years ago and is now knocking at the door of the top 10. A company that has been, and continues to be, ambitiously acquisitive. One to watch!
The award for best supporting role was contested by a variety of companies. The winner, however, was a company that provides a true one-stop-shop to its customers, and that aims to be a world leader in both science and customer service - Huntingdon Life Sciences.
Customer service continued to be a wining trait of the recipient of the award for best supplier Saltigo, noted for its dedicated key accounts team and ability to support the whole lifecycle of customers' products from route selection to pilot scale and commercial production.
The German Crop Protection Pest Control and Fertilizer Association won the award for the best public outreach programme with its "Food for Life!" scheme promoting the benefits of crop protection.
The stage is now set for the second Agrow Awards. More details of the inaugural event, together with pictures and winners' responses, will be published in a special Agrow Magazine supplement, "The Agrow Awards 2007".
The Winners and Sponsors Best Formulations Innovation 2007 EcoZome - Dow AgroSciences Best R&D Pipeline 2007 DuPont Ag and Nutrition Platform Sponsored by Syntech Research Best New Crop Protection Product 2007 YieldGard VT Triple, Monsanto Sponsored by JSC International Limited Best Stewardship Programme 2007 stewardshipfirst, CropLife Canada Most Innovative Chemistry 2007 Rynaxypyr, DuPont Crop Protection Best Novel Agricultural Biotechnology 2007 Optimum GAT Herbicide Tolerance Trait, Pioneer Hi-Bred International & DuPont Crop Protection Best Company from an Emerging Region 2007 United Phosphorus Ltd Best Supporting Role 2007 Huntingdon Life Sciences Best Supplier 2007 Saltigo GmbH Best Public Outreach Programme 2007 Food for Life! - The Benefits of Crop Protection, German Crop Protection Pest Control and Fertilizer Association Lifetime Achievement Dr Bob Holm Sponsored by Plant Impact Barclay Chemicals supported the event as a networking partner.