AgZen and Corteva Join Forces to Revolutionize Spray Efficiency and Reduce Chemical Waste

In a move poised to redefine precision agriculture, AgZen, a U.S.-based agtech startup born out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has partnered with Corteva Agriscience to advance research and development in spray efficiency and crop input optimization. The collaboration, announced this month, will involve both lab and field testing and seeks to maximize the efficacy and sustainability of agricultural chemical use across global markets.

“Working with AgZen will help us identify opportunities to optimize efficiency and effectiveness across our crop protection portfolio,” said Marta Garcia, Crop Protection Business & Strategy Enablement Lead at Corteva.

AgZen, founded by Vishnu Jayaprakash, has developed AI-powered systems designed to help farmers understand in real time how much of their spray is actually reaching crops—and how much is being wasted. Despite decades of technological progress in agriculture, most growers still have limited visibility into spray coverage, droplet behavior, and the actual impact of their inputs.

Tackling the “spray and pray” problem

Traditional methods of applying crop protection products often rely on educated guesswork. Farmers may hit their targets, but without accurate feedback, they can’t know whether they’re using too much—or too little—of a given chemical.

AgZen’s RealCoverage platform aims to change that. The system can be mounted onto any sprayer and uses high-speed cameras to monitor droplet behavior in real time. The software analyzes environmental conditions, spray pressure, droplet size, and other variables to guide farmers on the optimal setup for their specific crops and fields.

The results, says Jayaprakash, are remarkable: growers can achieve 30–50% reductions in chemical inputs while maintaining or even improving control over weeds and pests. “We’re taking off the blindfold,” he told AgFunderNews. “For more than 80 years, farmers have been spraying at scale without knowing how much of their product actually reaches the plants. Now, for the first time, they can measure that.”

AgZen’s RealCoverage system has expanded from 65,000 acres in 2024 to nearly 970,000 acres in 2025, across both row and specialty crops, with ongoing expansion into Brazil and Australia.

Enhancing droplet performance with novel technology

The company’s second innovation, EnhanceCoverage, takes a different approach to improving spray efficiency. Instead of simply mixing adjuvants into the solution, EnhanceCoverage coats each droplet with adjuvants before application, increasing the chances of droplets sticking to plant surfaces rather than bouncing off.

“We piloted this with five units earlier this year and saw outstanding results,” said Jayaprakash. “Our goal is to expand the pilot next year and make the system available for wider commercial use by 2027.”

The improvements are more than theoretical. Missouri farmer Corey McIntosh, who manages 4,000 acres of corn and soybeans, was shocked when he discovered that conventional sprayers cover as little as 9–10% of leaf surface area—a fraction of what operators typically assume. Similarly, Indiana grower Bryan Brost, who farms 12,000 acres, praised the system for its transparency: “It’s very tough to tell which adjuvants work and which are a waste of money. AgZen helps us see what’s actually reaching our plants.”

The Corteva partnership: closing the feedback loop

For Corteva, one of the world’s leading crop protection companies, the collaboration with AgZen offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of how droplet coverage and lifetime correlate with product efficacy.

“Corteva’s strengths are in agronomy and formulation science—understanding how chemicals interact with crops and weeds,” said Jayaprakash. “Our expertise lies in droplet monitoring, optimization, and real-time feedback. Together, we can uncover data that benefits the entire agricultural ecosystem.”

According to Jayaprakash, early joint studies have already yielded “very interesting insights” that could reshape how chemical formulations are developed and applied. “We’re learning things neither team knew before—findings that could dramatically change how these products work in the field.”

Scaling through strategic partnerships

AgZen’s rapid growth reflects the agricultural industry’s increasing appetite for data-driven sustainability. The company has tripled its dealer network from five to fifteen and expects all units sold next year to be dealer-supported, ensuring broader reach without proportional growth in staffing.

“Partnering with one of the world’s largest ag input providers gives farmers confidence,” said Jayaprakash. “We’re collaborating directly with the companies selling the chemicals to determine the most effective ways to spray them.”

AgZen offers its RealCoverage system both for purchase and through a lease-to-own program, providing flexibility for different types of growers. “On 5,000 acres of soybeans, the system can pay for itself in a year,” Jayaprakash claimed, underscoring the economic as well as environmental benefits.

Toward a smarter, more sustainable future

As regulatory scrutiny and environmental pressures push the industry toward precision and sustainability, technologies like those developed by AgZen may soon become essential tools for farmers worldwide. By integrating real-time feedback and AI-powered analytics, these systems enable growers to make every drop count—cutting waste, protecting yields, and improving profitability.

“Our mission,” said Jayaprakash, “is to build a future where every chemical sprayed on a farm makes an impact—and nothing goes to waste.”