GfK Kynetec Buys Agricultural Researcher

GfK Kynetec - which supplies market research for the crop protection, biotech and animal health industries - has acquired the non-crop business of Agricultural Information Services (AIS), to enable it to act as the sole supplier of data on crop protection products usage.

UK-based AIS has conducted market research to track the development of the non-crop industry since 1992. On completion of the deal, GfK Kynetec will expand the AIS programme to launch a new global non-crop research study, sigmaNC.

This study will quantify the use of products and their active ingredients by market segment in all applications outside crop agriculture. It will comprise annual coverage of 22 core countries accounting for approximately 70% of the world market, and will be supplemented by additional country studies every two to four years.

The firm says that sigmaNC, together with its established sigma programme - in use for more than 25 years - allows it to offer the 'only' source of detailed information on the total global usage of crop protection products.

'GfK Kynetec will be uniquely placed to offer clients a research and consultancy service based on detailed quantitative data on all uses of chemicals and biologicals,' states Director Dr Antony Goulds.

AIS will continue to operate in the pesticide market and conduct other market research activities that are non-competitive with GfK Kynetec. In addition to continuing his role with AIS, company founder Rod Parker will join GfK Kynetec as an Associate Director to assist in establishing the firm in this area of business.

GfK Kynetec, which has offices across North America, Europe and Asia, was formed when UK-headquartered dmrkynetec was acquired by GfK earlier this year.

The firms are online at: www.gfk-kynetec.com and www.aisglobal.net .