The acquisition strengthens Solvay’s existing seed care portfolio in bio-based, seed-applied solutions; enables reinvestment opportunities for Bayer
Solvay and Bayer have recently announced the successful closing of Solvay’s previously announced acquisition of Bayer’s global Coatings Business, with facilities in Méréville, France, and tolling operations in the US and Brazil. The business is recognised globally for seed coating and seed enhancement products such as Peridiam, fluency powders, Certop, Pro-Ized Pigment, and Talkum, and its research and development capabilities for on-seed formulations. The Méréville facility’s entire product portfolio, R&D projects and the business line’s international tolling operations are now fully transferred to Solvay.
The Méréville facility has 36 permanent employees and conducts industry-leading research and development of application technologies for seeds, such as seed coating and filming processes, representing around 20 per cent of the site’s activity, while the remaining 80 per cent is dedicated to research and formulation of aqueous solutions called film-coaters. The film coaters developed at the Méréville site are exported and used in 35 countries.
Seed coatings can best be understood as the ’glue’ that allows any seed treatment product to bind to the actual seed. In combination, the active ingredient that is coated on the seed helps to protect seeds against insects and diseases that could prevent the seed from germinating or growing. Seed treatments are especially important for field crop seeds such as wheat, rapeseed, maize, sunflower, rice and soya, and vegetable seeds such as beetroot.
Solvay will remain a strategic partner for Bayer’s seed activities thanks to exclusive supplier status for film-coating to be used for Bayer SeedGrowth products on Bayer Seeds for at least five years.
Bayer and Solvay are committed to a smooth transition to ensure that customers will have uninterrupted access to the seed coating and seed enhancement products in the countries where they are currently sold.
