Coatings spur growth.

Coatings play a significant role in daily life. They not only beautify our homes and workplaces, they also protect valuable property and equipment. Unknown to many, though, is the fact that coatings are becoming increasingly important in the production of much of the food we eat.

The coating of seeds, of major field crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, and vegetables such as lettuce and tomatoes, has been growing in recent years as both treatment and application technology have advanced.

Placing a film coating on a seed enables the safe and dust-free incorporation of treatment chemicals such as fungicides and insecticides, nutrients and plant strengtheners, and color and effect pigments, and can also improve the plantability (seed flow through seed planters) and performance of the seed.

Colorants are necessary (and required by Federal law in the U.S.) to identify seeds treated with a pesticide. Colorants can also be used to differentiate between technologies, eliminating confusion at planting time and preventing unnecessary and costly application of fertilizers or pesticides. Special effect pigments also afford seed companies the opportunity to develop a uniquely branded look for their products.

Seed coatings typically are comprised of a thin layer of polymer binder that contains the aforementioned actives and additives. Resins range from natural fatty acid base materials to synthetics such as styrene-butadiene and vinyl acetate compounds.

Coating technology today allows for the careful placement of very thin layers of film onto seeds, providing control of dosage amounts and permitting the layering of different ingredients. In some cases, the polymer itself provides protection. Coating treatments can cost anywhere from $2 per acre to about $17.

In a recent press release, Monsanto Co., an agricultural company, indicated that the global seed treatment industry generates annual sales of more than $1.5 billion. The company also noted that less than 25% of soybean, about 90% of cotton, and over 90% of corn seeds sold in the U.S. have coatings applied to them.

This market represents a growing opportunity. Monsanto plans to be a major player, and has been acquiring coating technologies over the past two years. The company has signed several technology licensing agreements in the last six months, and in early 2008 established a global seed treatment platform that will complement its existing seed strategy and investments in breeding and biotechnology.

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Three of Monsanto's recent licensing agreements represent the wide variety of seed coating technologies available today.

In one case, Monsanto will be the exclusive sales and marketing agent for Landec Ag's Intellicoat[R] seed coating technology for corn, oilseeds, and cotton. This fatty acid derived polymer, when applied, is a crystalline material. It does not allow penetration of water into a seed until the soil temperature reaches approximately 55[degrees]C, at which point it becomes amorphous and allows water to pass through and germination to begin. Because the change is physical in nature, it is reversible and repeats as temperatures fluctuate, regulating a seed's water uptake.

Seeds with this coating can be planted several weeks earlier than their untreated peers without fear of decomposition, and will emerge when conditions are right. The planting window is much expanded, the risks associated with early/late planting are eliminated, and because the harvested crops will have less moisture in them, processing costs are reduced. In addition, because the planting window is greater, higher-yielding, longer-maturing hybrids seeds can be selected. Earlier spring plantings can lead to earlier plantings of succession crops, which often results in higher yields for later harvests. Double cropping of soybeans and wheat is also more effective, because there is much better control over when the crops will emerge.

In a second licensing deal, Monsanto has agreed to work with Becker Underwood Inc. on the development of treatments to improve the nitrogen-fixing efficiency of soybeans.

Becker Underwood has separately developed a variety of seed enhancement and inoculant technologies, including Sepiret[R] 1171(-)O, the first seed colorant, polymer, and enhancement material certified for use on organic seeds. It allows for dust-off control during treatment, processing, and planting while helping to bind any treatments onto the seed.

Monsanto's third recent licensing agreement is with Plant Health Care Inc. for a coating designed to ward off nematodes for corn, soybeans, cotton, and vegetables. N-Hibit[TM] Seed Treatment, a non-conventional nematicide, has been shown to reduce nematode egg and juvenile populations in crop roots by an average of 50% or more.

Plant Health Care also has proprietary technologies that are based on the natural response of plants to the presence of certain fungi or the proteins produced by certain bacterial plant pathogens. The result of these treatments is the activation of growth responses, leading to root extension and increased nutrient uptake.

Other companies have developed seed coatings specifically designed to fight insects and diseases. For example, Garst Seed Company's ProCoat polymer-based seed treatment for soybeans provides early-season insurance in combination with a broad spectrum fungicide.

The All-Vantage[R] seed coating system from Allied Seed, L.L.C. is based on a proprietary polymer (Adhere 108) that acts as a superior binding agent to provide consistent, uniform coverage of a seed. The system can be used for application of legume inoculants, fungicide treatments, seed coloring, and nutrient packages to promote better stand establishment.

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INCOTEC offers water-based coatings for both high-value, low-volume vegetable seeds and low-value, large-volume agricultural seeds. According to the company, the major differences in the coatings are water solubility of a polymer system, binding strength, level of color and effect pigments, and presence of functional additives.

Bayer CropScience's CelPril[R] business focuses on the development of seed coatings that enhance seed growth and productivity. The company has developed cost effective technologies that allow prescription loading of seed protectants onto a variety of seed types.

The higher value, high-tech seeds produced today require more protection. Over-seeding to guarantee emergence is not a practical option. Many seed experts now consider the seed to be the future delivery system for not only genetics but also for seed protectants and biologicals. Coatings will make this possible.