Agrii and PI AgSciences extend partnership to bring new crop technologies to UK growers

Agrii and PI AgSciences have extended their UK and Ireland partnership to 2031, continuing their work to bring new protein- and peptide-based crop technologies to growers.

The agreement builds on a relationship spanning more than 10 years and gives Agrii continued access to PI AgSciences’ developing pipeline of crop protection and biological technologies.

For growers, the focus is on finding new tools that can complement existing crop programmes and help crops manage increasing pressure from disease, pests and environmental stress.

New tools for changing crop challenges

With active ingredients continuing to be withdrawn, resistance developing and margins remaining under pressure, the need for effective new crop technologies is increasing.

PI AgSciences is developing protein- and peptide-based technologies designed to work through plant signalling pathways, helping crops respond to stress and defend against threats.

“The UK growers are increasingly looking for new ways to protect yield and manage risk under challenging conditions.

“Our innovative protein and peptide technologies offer a novel mode of action that works through the plant, activating plant signalling pathways that help develop resilience and defend against threats.

“Continued partnership with Agrii provides the route to bring these technologies to growers at scale.”

Jagresh Rana, Global CEO of PI AgSciences

PI AgSciences is already commercialising protein- and peptide-based biopesticides in international markets, with further technologies progressing through its development pipeline.

Understanding where new technologies fit on farm

For Agrii, access to new technology is only part of the process. Products must also be understood within UK cropping systems, tested appropriately and positioned where they can offer practical and economic value.

“Identifying technologies that can improve crop performance and deliver consistent results on farm is central to our approach at Agrii.

“As active ingredients continue to be withdrawn, resistance continues to develop and farm profitability remains under pressure, growers need access to new technologies that complement existing crop protection programmes, improve crop performance and deliver a clear economic return.

“PI AgSciences continues to advance its peptide technologies, while Agrii applies our research, technical expertise and practical agronomy to understand where those innovations fit within commercial farming systems and support their adoption by growers.”

Matthew Williams, Commercial Lead Specialty Crops at Agrii

The extended agreement will also support closer supply coordination as demand for the technologies develops.

From innovation to practical agronomy

The partnership will continue to combine PI AgSciences’ technology development with Agrii’s research, technical expertise and agronomy network.

The aim is to identify where new products offer a useful fit, build the evidence around them and help agronomists and growers understand how they can be used as part of wider crop programmes.

“Building on what we have achieved together over the past 10 years, the next stage is about continuing to assess these technologies carefully and understanding where they can make a meaningful contribution to crop performance and farm margins.”

Matthew Williams, Commercial Lead Specialty Crops at Agrii

About PI AgSciences

PI AgSciences is PI Industries’ global agriculture business, providing biological and crop protection solutions for growers internationally.

Its work includes the proprietary PREtec™ platform and wider R&D programmes focused on developing scalable technologies for use within modern crop production systems.

PI Industries, founded in 1946, operates across agri-sciences, speciality chemicals, crop protection, ag-biologicals and pharmaceuticals, with R&D and manufacturing operations across several international markets.