 As a field development scientist at Syngenta, Darren Lycan, Ph.D., tests products and formulations that have yet to be registered or commercialized. His subject matter could be anything from early-stage experimental active ingredients (AIs) to updated formulations with a slight variation in inert ingredients.
While he conducts his own internal trials, Lycan also manages trials conducted by outside researchers, which gives Syngenta a more well-rounded and non-biased data set to work from. Here, he discusses how the trial phase of the Syngenta product development process benefits you and other pest management professionals.
What steps are involved in setting up and conducting third-party trials of our products?
The first step in conducting external trials is to have a quality protocol that clearly defines the objectives and methods of the desired testing. We work with our product biology colleagues and commercial field technical services teams to produce the protocol and then discuss it with our external cooperators. We work through any questions they may have about the pest species/strain, application methods, data collection, reporting format and deadline, and any issues that may pop up during an experiment.
Other steps in conducting these trials include the payment process, getting the appropriate research agreement in place (if needed), ensuring the correct formulations and quantities are available and shipped to the cooperator and most importantly, the data flow. We monitor a trial’s progress and help ensure the report is in the proper format and contains the key information needed to be able to properly interpret the results. We report the results to our stakeholders, make recommendations on the next step in development and archive the data for future retrieval and additional analysis if needed.
Have you seen an evolution in the way new technologies are tested or new testing methods scientists must consider?
Over the years, there have been improvements in the ability to detect and quantify insecticide resistance in pest populations. Newer digital technologies quantify insect activity and simplify tracking. Improvements to statistical software allow for greater analytical power. However, the basic principles of our development testing remain the same. We need to understand the biology of the target pest and how our product works to control it. From there, we can test and determine the best application method, product rate and application interval so our customers can maximize control with our new technologies.
How does the work you do benefit pest management professionals?
Our trialing process ensures that our products do what they are intended to do. We often test multiple variants of a new formulation before a final one is chosen for commercialization. In addition, over time certain products may evolve because of new technologies, regulatory requirements or changes in ingredient sourcing. Our intensive trialing helps confirm changes do not negatively impact our products’ performance in the field.
Another important aspect of our trialing is the feedback we receive from cooperators on how the products work on different species, strains, under new use patterns, etc. This can guide us in how to write the most applicable directions for use on a product label and how best to incorporate a product into pest management programs. There is no substitute for extensive product development testing. More testing leads to fewer surprises for customers.
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