As agriculture grapples with rising climate stress, soil degradation and growing pressure to improve productivity sustainably, ingredient manufacturers are increasingly focusing on technologies that help crops perform under more challenging conditions. Against this backdrop, French plant-based ingredient specialist Roquette has launched a new multifunctional polyol range aimed at supporting next-generation agricultural formulations.
The new range, known as NEOSORB AG, is designed for agriscience professionals developing products such as biostimulants, foliar fertilizers, micronutrient formulations and crop nutrition solutions. The launch reflects growing demand for ingredients that not only improve formulation performance but also contribute to plant resilience and nutrient efficiency in increasingly unpredictable growing environments.
The agricultural inputs industry is undergoing a significant transformation as farmers face mounting environmental pressures, including salinity stress, water scarcity and extreme weather events. These challenges are pushing formulators to develop products capable of enhancing crop performance while aligning with sustainability goals. Roquette's latest offering is positioned squarely within this emerging market trend.
At its core, the platform combines three key functionalities: potential biostimulant properties, moisture-retention capabilities for foliar and liquid fertilizer systems, and organic complexation that can improve micronutrient delivery. By integrating multiple functions into a single ingredient platform, the company aims to simplify formulation development while enhancing product effectiveness.
The range consists of two liquid-grade solutions tailored to different formulation requirements.
The first, NEOSORB AG S50, features a clear syrup format containing 69.5 per cent to 70.5 per cent dry matter, 10 per cent mannitol and a minimum of 69 per cent sorbitol. The highly defined composition is intended for applications where consistency and precision are critical.
The company highlighted trial results involving tomatoes grown under salinity stress, one of the most significant challenges affecting crop productivity globally. According to Roquette, foliar applications of the product delivered improvements in several agronomic indicators compared with sodium chloride control treatments, including gains in biomass production, chlorophyll content and root development.
The second grade, NEOSORB AG L20, contains 65 per cent dry matter, 10 per cent mannitol and 50 per cent to 70 per cent sorbitol on a dry-matter basis. Designed as a more flexible formulation platform, it targets a broad range of agricultural products, including adjuvants, liquid fertilizers, foliar nutrition solutions, micronutrient products and biostimulants.
The company says the ingredient supports moisture retention, nutrient delivery and plant resilience while helping manufacturers create more differentiated products for increasingly competitive agricultural input markets.
The launch comes at a time when the global biostimulant and specialty crop nutrition sectors are experiencing rapid growth. Farmers are increasingly seeking solutions that complement traditional fertilizers and crop protection products, particularly those capable of improving nutrient-use efficiency and helping plants withstand environmental stress.
For formulation companies, the challenge is balancing performance, sustainability and ease of application. Multifunctional ingredients that can deliver several agronomic benefits simultaneously are therefore attracting greater attention across the industry.
Roquette believes its new platform addresses that demand by offering formulators greater flexibility in product development while supporting innovation in sustainable agriculture.
The broader significance of the launch lies in the growing convergence between plant science, formulation technology and sustainability objectives. As climate variability continues to influence agricultural productivity worldwide, demand is rising for ingredients that help crops maintain performance under difficult conditions without increasing environmental pressure.
Rather than focusing solely on yield enhancement, the next generation of agricultural inputs is increasingly centered on resilience, resource efficiency and formulation sophistication. Roquette's latest entry into the agriscience sector reflects that shift.
With the agricultural industry searching for tools that can help farmers navigate a more complex production landscape, multifunctional plant-based ingredients are emerging as a key area of innovation. The introduction of NEOSORB AG signals how ingredient manufacturers are positioning themselves to play a larger role in the future of sustainable crop production—where formulation performance is becoming as important as the active ingredients themselves.
