In addition to its high-quality scientific services, Agrochemex also provides its manufacturer clients with a range of practical ancillary services including the dispatch and transportation of experimental samples worldwide. Physical compatibility tests are also conducted in the laboratory for a significant number of manufacturers and sprayer tests for new formulations and products are in increasing demand.

Agrochemex Ltd is based at the Aldham’s Farm Research Station, near Manningtree, Essex, in the UK. Less than one hour away by road from London’s Stansted Airport, the site was a former Aventis (Rhône-Poulenc) Global Centre of Excellence. It was purchased five years ago by Agrochemex managing director Alan Gamblin and used to set up an agricultural and horticultural contract research organisation.

According to Mr Gamblin, Agrochemex has in place a number of collaborative agreements with analytical organisations and CROs operating in other European countries. This enables the company to offer its clients a more complete service, although he stresses that the specific skills of Agrochemex are very much focused in the area of plant science where they can claim to be ‘the experts’.