Evonik has entered a technological cooperation agreement with the AgTech Garage innovation center in the Piracicaba Technology Park, in the state of Sao Paulo.

The new partnership will promote Evonik's agribusiness capabilities and help to leverage its innovation in the area through better connections to the regional agribusiness ecosystem.

“We are committed to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the South American agricultural market. This partnership with AgTech Garage will help us to strongly connect with large companies and startups to promote and develop new technologies for the agricultural industry through open innovation”, said Diego Abreu, Global Marketing Head of Evonik Interface & Performance's agricultural market segment.

AgTech Garage is one of the world’s main innovation hubs specializing in agribusiness, promoting initiatives that connect startups, producers, investors, academics, scientists, and other stakeholders to develop technological solutions that contribute to a more sustainable, competitive, and socially inclusive agribusiness across the entire value chain. With established partnerships and the support of leading companies, AgTech Garage’s network provides an innovation dynamic: open, connected, collaborative, and agile.

“The proximity to AgTech Garage’s network of partners enables us to exchange experiences and have discussions that contribute to driving our innovation culture at Evonik. This is the concept of open innovation, where the exchange of information in this type of environment is transformed into knowledge and innovation,” said Abreu.

Evonik's Interface & Performance agribusiness offers additives and adjuvants for conventional and biological agrochemical formulations under its BREAK-THRU brand. The broad portfolio of defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, oil enhancers, wetting agents, super-spreaders, and penetrants also includes biocompatible products for crop protection and seed treatments.

To meet the growing needs of customers in the agricultural market, including delivering customized solutions, Evonik recently opened its latest “Agro Hub”, at its Applied Technology Center (ATC) in Americana, Sao Paulo. The new space provides the perfect collaborative environment for innovation by combining modern laboratories, access to two pilot plants and infrastructure to conduct customer training.