Agriculture

Agriculture stands at a crossroads: climate change, shrinking resources, and the growing demand for resilient, more sustainable agriculture all demand immediate action to ensure food security. The transition to a better future starts now, with a focus on practical, integrative approaches. 

These pressing challenges require a balance between immediate improvements and long-term solutions. Together with our partners, we take on the toughest questions in the industry, building bridges between today's needs and tomorrow's vision. By developing biodegradable* solutions today, we are paving the way for a future where sustainable agriculture thrives and ensures a healthier planet for generations to come. 

For us, sustainable agriculture means farming in a way that meets today’s food needs while minimizing environmental impact and the use of resources that future generations will need. It focuses on protecting soil, conserving water, reducing emissions, and using renewable or partly biodegradable solutions to grow food responsibly while maintaining the planet’s health.

With solutions like Amulix® we at Covestro are already taking important steps to change agriculture with innovative, biodegradable* solutions. Our focus lies in enabling a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system, addressing the pressing needs of the industry with actionable solutions. 

Our latest innovation: Amulix® seed coatings: 

Designed together with our joint venture partner Dynaplak, a developer of starch-based solutions, this technology helps achieve protection of both seeds and soil. On the one hand, our coating helps protect seeds by providing a protective barrier from external stress. On the other hand, biodegradability helps reduce the amount of microplastics in the soil.**  Our aim is to create future-proof formulations that have reduced environmental impact and help growers to achieve maximum crop yield. We support seed companies in transitioning as seamlessly as possible to more sustainable coatings that maintain high performance. This new generation of partly biodegradable seed coatings are compliant with the latest regulations* and help ensure both maximum yields and can contribute to improved soil health, making every future harvest more sustainable. 

Bridging innovation and impact: 

Amulix® is actively addressing agriculture’s most urgent challenges with innovative, practical solutions. By combining advanced material science with regenerative technologies, we are already creating more sustainable products that are designed to help tackle soil degradation and water scarcity. This is about driving measurable impact now—delivering scalable solutions that make a difference today while building a foundation for long-term change. 

Driving progress through collaboration:

Collaboration remains at the heart of everything we do. Together with a global network of agricultural pioneers, we navigate the uncertainties of a changing world, co-creating solutions that respond to global demands for sustainable farming. Through these partnerships, Amulix® continues to empower the agriculture of today while preparing its actors for the challenges of tomorrow.

At Covestro, we are taking the next big step by expanding our focus to create impactful, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Building on the success of Amulix® seed coatings, we are now developing practical technologies that not only improve soil health but also reduce environmental impact and maximize resource efficiency. Our commitment is to meet the immediate needs of farmers and the industry with scalable solutions that drive lasting change— both today and for the future of agriculture.

*All instances in which we use the term 'biodegradable' refer to materials that meet the biodegradability criteria defined in either the Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055—amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH)—or in the EU Fertilizers Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/2770, depending on the specific intended application. The biodegradability may vary depending on environmental conditions and may require specific industrial composting facilities. The specific biodegradation rate and conditions for each product are available upon request. 

**Amulix® seed coating polymers demonstrate biodegradation rates equal to or exceeding 60% within 28 days according to OECD 301F, thereby qualifying for exemption from the EU Microplastics Regulation.

Sources:
¹ https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal2
² htps://irff.undp.org/publications/advancing-smallholder-farmers-resilience-and-adaptation-climate-change
³ https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/agriculture/our-insights/global-farmer-insights-2024