PLANTING THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS:

For farmers across the world crop spraying is now a vital element of developing a profitable business. But, many farmers now need more than one spray to help crops grow and this is where costs can mount up. That’s where Nano Agrochemicals has stepped in. The mother and son team, Sylvia and Andrew Dean, have developed a spray using nano technology that is capable of performing multiple functions.

The idea came to the team when many crop producers they spoke to voiced their frustrations with regard to the cost of spraying the crops, particularly in California, where past activities have resulted in the soil becoming more sterile. In California food crops account for 40% of the country’s crop production, so ensuring high quality and plentiful harvests are of vital importance not only to the farmer but to the regional economy as well.

Nano Agrochemicals then went on to develop nano particles (particles 100 million times smaller than a metre) in order to cover them with different coatings, allowing the particles to carry out a number of functions. This new development drastically reduces the development costs for agrochemical businesses and the cost of treatment for farmers, since they only need to use one type of spray.

Having completed his PhD in biotechnology and physical chemistry at Teesside University, Andrew learned about the DigitalCity Fellowship and applied for a place together with his mother Sylvia who is studying an MSc in Environmental Technology. The fellowship lasted six months and in that time Nano Agrochemicals was able to further develop the product and increase their knowledge of chemical modelling.

FELLOWSHIP HELPS TO GROW THE IDEA:

The Nano Agrochemicals team, despite being highly skilled scientists and entrepreneurs, had very little digital design knowledge, and this is where the DigitalCity Fellowship proved invaluable. The DigitalCity Fellowship enabled financial support during the product development stage, which paid for living costs so that the pair could focus on development and research.

Andrew said: “It was great to be able to integrate the new area of digital design into science reality and massively cut developmental costs. The DigitalCity was vital to our research and development and without them we would have progressed much more slowly.”

Throughout and indeed since the DigitalCity Fellowship, Nano Agrochemicals has made the most of the networking opportunities that have arisen as a direct result of the DigitalCity Fellowship programme. Sylvia says: “We have forged strong links with other North East organisations such as the North East Chamber of Commerce and UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) who have been a huge help to us.”

NANOAGROCHEMICALS.COM

Since taking part in the DigitalCity fellowship Nano Agrochemicals has been awarded with the Blue Print Award, which recognised the company as the best overall business at Teesside University.

Currently Nano Agrochemicals is in the research stage and is in discussions with global agrochemical companies. It is currently looking to secure additional funding to move to the field trial stage in the US. The team is hoping to employ a third member who will be responsible for raising funds for the company.