Vive Crop Protection Revolutionizes Farming with Less Pesticide Use

Vive Crop Protection, a Canadian AgTech company, aims to transform farming by enabling farmers to increase crop yields while significantly reducing the use of harmful pesticides. The company, founded in 2006, focuses on precision chemistry to optimize crop protection, thereby supporting sustainable agriculture.

Recently, Vive secured $2.3 million in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to enhance its operational capacity. In October, the company also announced the closure of an oversubscribed $10 million USD funding round, attracting investments from notable firms such as Emmertech, iSelect Fund, BDC Capital, and Farm Credit Canada through FCC Capital. This financial backing reflects a growing commitment to sustainable agricultural practices in Canada.

Innovative Solutions for Modern Farming

Vive’s approach is encapsulated in its motto of “development-over-discovery,” emphasizing the enhancement of existing technologies rather than creating new ones. This philosophy resonates with the broader trend in Canadian agriculture, which has shown resilience despite economic challenges. Agriculture employs over 2.3 million Canadians and contributes nearly 7 percent to the nation’s GDP, showcasing its vital role in the economy.

Darren Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Vive, expresses a strong belief in using technology as a force for good in agriculture. He notes, “It’s always been incredibly important to me that technology can be a force for good in agriculture.” The company’s patented delivery system, known as Allosperse, was developed during the co-founders’ studies at the University of Toronto. This nanotechnology-based system ensures that active ingredients, such as fungicides and fertilizers, are delivered precisely where needed, reducing waste and enhancing productivity.

Douglas Baumann, Vive’s Chief Technology Officer, highlights the importance of keeping these active ingredients effective on the plant. He compares the technology to sunscreen, which loses effectiveness over time. “When Vive creates a fungicide, we need to keep that on the plant, because that is where it’s doing its job,” he explains.

Positive Environmental Impact

With seven products currently available in the US market, Vive plans to expand its reach to cover 200 million acres across Canada by the end of 2025. The recent opening of a new “precision-chemistry” lab further positions the company for growth. This lab will allow Vive to optimize how active ingredients resist environmental challenges such as wind and rain.

A recent study commissioned by Vive from the consulting firm Pinion evaluated the sustainability impact of its products. By analyzing internal data alongside over 500 field trials, the study concluded that using Vive’s products resulted in a reduction of water usage by up to 76 litres per acre. Additionally, it found that the use of synthetic active ingredients decreased by an average of 54 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions were cut by 70 percent.

This commitment to sustainability is reflected in Anderson’s belief that improving efficiency often leads to environmental benefits. “Anytime you’re improving effectiveness or efficiency, you almost always end up getting sustainability benefits along for free,” he states.

As the demand for sustainable farming practices continues to grow, Vive Crop Protection stands at the forefront of innovation in agriculture, demonstrating that it is possible to achieve higher yields while reducing the reliance on harmful chemicals.