Discovery through Launch

From the in-depth understanding of basic scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, molecular biology and genetics, scientists at Dow AgroSciences first explore, design and identify potential candidates for insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, crop traits and plant-cell produced proteins (Discovery).

In Pre-Development, using leading-edge technology and advanced science, Dow AgroSciences R&D scientists then challenge the new candidates against commercial targets and fully characterize their behavior in a wide spectrum of environments. Product candidates that meet high hurdles proceed to be engineered for optimal and reduced risk performance through formulation and delivery systems prior to Launch into the marketplace, where R&D continues to support them. R&D support is ongoing throughout the product’s lifespan, including expansion into new markets and re-registration activities.

Only one in 39,000 pest management products makes it through this rigorous process, according to CropLife International, and the cost to research, develop and register one product by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranges from $152-184 million. A crop trait takes on average 5-10 years to commercialize.