RiceCo: Complete Solutions

Posted by Matt Hopkins|22 December 2008

Combined Resources

RiceCo was founded in August 1997 when Cedar Chemical and Westrade RC, Inc. combined their resources to maximize their efficiencies in the production of propanil. This created an opportunity for RiceCo to evolve as the premier developer, marketer, and supplier of products and services wholly dedicated to rice. In May 2000, Griffin LLC purchased Westrade’s share of RiceCo, and in March 2003, Westrade USA purchased Cedar’s share. In 2004, Proficol USA purchased Griffin’s share of RiceCo. The company’s vision of providing differentiated crop protection chemicals, yield and milling enhancers, and value-added seed as well as technology and services for outputs is being realized in all major rice producing regions of the world.

A Worldwide Mission

RiceCo has differentiated its core product, propanil, by creating a number of unique formulations. These include the popular water-based SUPERWHAM! and DUET, as well as the dry flowable formulations WHAM 60DF and DUET 60DF. Solvent-based ECs RiceShot and RICECO ARROSOLO are sold in the US. Unique, differentiated, branded products sold outside the US to serve the world’s rice growers include Propanil 60DF, Neptune 60DF, RiceMax or ArroMax, and RiceFos. RiceCo’s portfolio also includes a foliar micronutrient, sold as RiceFeed or Multi Feed Rice, that has helped to increase yields in traditionally low yielding rice growing regions.

RiceCo will continue to be focused on the crop’s strategic role as a global food staple, particularly in developing countries, raising awareness of the global hunger problem, and sharing with the world the importance of RiceCo’s mission. RiceCo’s plans for the future include continuing to develop strategic alliances with other companies and gaining access to more proprietary active ingredients for use on rice crops. Geographically, the company looks to expand its presence in Asia, the chief rice producing region of the world, and adapt the US marketing support model to other markets around the world. In addition, the company believes it is important to create value through product differentiation in all its global markets.