One Emulsifier, Every Neem Application: The Agrosurf NOE Advantage
Written by : Sean Hodgkinson, Sales Director
A ~90%+ bio-based neem concentrate, powered by Agrosurf NOE’s uniquely stable emulsification — unlocking neem oil across agriculture, horticulture, equine and animal care
NATURALLY DERIVED · ~90–95% BIO-BASED CONCENTRATE · ONE FOOLPROOF EMULSIFIER
Introduction
Every neem oil product on the market — from a grower’s foliar spray to a horse fly-repellent — depends on one thing working flawlessly: the emulsifier. Neem oil, pressed from the seeds of Azadirachta indica, is a dark, high-viscosity vegetable oil carrying the natural insecticide, acaricide and fungicide azadirachtin. Left alone it will not mix with water — it separates instantly, clogs sprayers and coats surfaces unevenly. No matter how potent the neem, without a reliable emulsifier there is no usable product.
Agrosurf NOE is the answer — and its performance as a neem oil emulsifier is what sets it apart. It is a purpose-built emulsifier system engineered specifically for neem oil’s difficult chemistry (mixed triglycerides, high free-fatty-acid content, high viscosity). Where generic surfactants cream, invert or break in hard water, Agrosurf NOE converts neem oil into a free-flowing, genuinely stable oil-in-water emulsion that the end user simply adds to water — no specialist equipment, no broken emulsions, no guesswork.
There is a second headline advantage: this is an overwhelmingly natural product. What Lankem and its customers actually sell is the concentrate — neem oil plus the Agrosurf NOE emulsifier system. The consumer only adds water at the point of use. Because that concentrate is dominated by neem oil (a 100% bio-based triglyceride), the product you place on the shelf is approximately 90–95% bio-based — a powerful, defensible sustainability claim in a market crying out for natural crop-protection and animal-care solutions.
Two headline perks in one product ✅ Uniquely stable emulsification: neem-specific, hard-water tolerant, foolproof 5:1 oil-to-emulsifier ratio — no separate hydrotrope/nonionic/co-emulsifier to balance. ✅ ~90–95% bio-based concentrate: neem oil + Agrosurf NOE, no petroleum solvent — the product sold is naturally derived and biodegradable. ✅ One platform, every end-market: the same emulsifier underpins agricultural ECs, garden sprays, equine and livestock products, de-risking the whole neem portfolio. |
The bio-based advantage — a natural product that stays natural
Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have” in crop protection and animal care — it is a purchasing driver. The beauty of the Agrosurf NOE approach is that the bio-based content is genuinely high without any greenwashing, because the formulation is built from naturally derived raw materials and contains no petroleum solvent.
Why the concentrate is the right basis for the claim. Customers buy the concentrate (neem oil + Agrosurf NOE); the consumer dilutes it into water only at the moment of application. Water carries no organic carbon and is not counted in bio-based content, so the meaningful, honest figure is the bio-based content of the concentrate as sold — and that is where neem oil’s dominance pays off.
Theoretical bio-based content — worked calculation
Bio-based content is calculated as the mass-weighted share of naturally derived (renewable-carbon) ingredients. Using conservative assumptions — neem oil = 100% bio-based (natural triglyceride), methyl soyate = 96% bio-based, antioxidant treated as non-bio (worst case) — the only variable is the bio-based share of Agrosurf NOE itself:
Formulation | Neem oil | Agrosurf NOE | Bio-ester | Theoretical bio-based content* |
Option A — solvent-free | 83.0% | 16.6% | — | 89.6% – 99.6% |
Option B — with methyl soyate | 70.0% | 14.0% | 15.8% | 90.8% – 99.2% |
*Range spans Agrosurf NOE bio-based content from 40% (very conservative) to 100%. Neem oil alone contributes 83 percentage points in Option A and neem + bio-ester contribute ~85 points in Option B, before any NOE contribution.
The most likely real-world figure. If Agrosurf NOE is a typical vegetable-derived nonionic emulsifier (~60–70% renewable carbon), the concentrate lands at roughly:
• Option A (solvent-free): ~94% bio-based (neem oil 83% at 100% + NOE 16.6% at ~65%).
• Option B (with methyl soyate): ~94% bio-based (neem 70% + methyl soyate 15.8% at 96% + NOE 14% at ~65%).
Either way, the product you sell is comfortably in the low-to-mid 90s% bio-based — a claim very few synthetic crop-protection or animal-care products can match.
Marketing angle — lead with “naturally derived” “Approximately 90–95% bio-based concentrate” is a headline that appeals to organic growers, IPM programmes, equine/pet owners and eco-conscious gardeners alike. Pair it with the emulsifier story: “naturally derived AND foolproof to use” — the two objections to botanical products (are they green? do they actually work in the sprayer?) are both answered. The only figure to finalise is the certified bio-based carbon content of Agrosurf NOE (e.g. via ASTM D6866 / ISO 16620). Once confirmed, a single headline % can be printed on the datasheet and pack. |
The active ingredient: azadirachtin and friends
Azadirachtin is a complex tetranortriterpenoid (C35H44O16), and it is the primary driver of neem’s biological activity. In technical neem oil, azadirachtin content typically ranges from 800 ppm to over 3000 ppm depending on seed source, extraction method (cold-press vs solvent) and storage. It works in several complementary ways rather than as a simple contact killer:
• Antifeedant: deters insects such as locusts, caterpillars and beetles from feeding.
• Insect growth regulator: disrupts moulting, metamorphosis and development by interfering with hormone and chitin systems.
• Oviposition deterrent & fertility reducer: fewer eggs laid, and reduced egg viability.
• Repellent: the pungent garlic/sulfur odour keeps pests away.
• Systemic action: azadirachtin can translocate within plant tissue, so it can also be applied via soil drench / fertigation.
A formulator’s caution: azadirachtin is sensitive. It degrades with heat, UV light and alkaline pH (it is most stable at mildly acidic pH 4–6), so manufacturing should stay below ~45–50 °C, packaging should be opaque/amber, and an antioxidant (e.g. BHT or tocopherol at 0.1–0.5%) protects shelf life. Once diluted into water the active begins to break down, so diluted sprays should be used fresh — ideally within 4–8 hours.
Why neem oil is so hard to emulsify — and where Agrosurf NOE wins
A potent active is worthless if it cannot be delivered evenly. Neem oil is one of the more difficult oils to emulsify, and understanding why the best way is to appreciate what Agrosurf NOE brings:
• High viscosity: cold-pressed neem oil can exceed 200 mPa·s at 25 °C, making uniform droplet formation genuinely difficult.
• Mixed triglyceride composition: the required HLB of the oil phase shifts with free-fatty-acid content and triglyceride profile, so a one-size-fits-all surfactant rarely holds.
• Field conditions: end users mix with hard water, tank-mix with other products and spray in the heat — all of which break weak emulsions.
• Active sensitivity: the emulsifier must perform without alkaline pH or high processing temperatures that would degrade azadirachtin.
Agrosurf NOE is engineered around exactly these constraints. It matches neem oil’s HLB requirement (~7–9), provides hard-water and electrolyte tolerance at field dilution, and holds a stable oil-in-water emulsion without inverting or creaming. The practical result: even active deposition on the target, batch after batch — which is why a good emulsifier is not just a convenience but an efficacy requirement. A broken emulsion means uneven dosing and reduced knockdown, regardless of how much azadirachtin is present.
Common emulsion failures Agrosurf NOE is designed to prevent Creaming on dilution (HLB too low) — oil droplets rising and separating. Phase inversion to water-in-oil when the oil:water balance is wrong. Emulsion break in hard water from insufficient electrolyte tolerance. Sticky, uneven leaf/coat residue from poor droplet uniformity. |
Application area 1 — Agriculture & crop protection
This is neem’s largest and best-established market. Neem oil and its purified fractions appear in over 100 registered pesticide products, applied to a wide range of food and non-food crops. It controls a broad spectrum of chewing and sucking pests and some diseases:
• Insects & mites: aphids, whiteflies, thrips, leaf miners, caterpillars/moth larvae, beetles, locusts and mites.
• Fungal disease: the clarified fraction is active against mildews and rusts.
• Nematodes: effective against root-knot nematodes, and suitable for fertigation.
• Organic / IPM / export horticulture: favoured where synthetic-residue limits are strict; spares many beneficial insects and pollinators, leaving no persistent soil residue.
Bonus stream — soil & fertiliser: neem cake / press-residue doubles as a slow-release nitrogen fertiliser and soil conditioner, improving moisture retention and suppressing soil-borne pathogens.
Lab formulation guide — Agrosurf NOE Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC)
This is the professional, scalable route: a single-pack concentrate the grower simply dilutes in the field. Building it on Agrosurf NOE means the whole emulsifier system is delivered by one product — no separate hydrotrope, primary nonionic and co-emulsifier to blend and HLB-balance by hand. Because NOE is already tuned to neem oil’s HLB, the formulation reduces to essentially two ingredients at the 5:1 oil-to-emulsifier ratio.
A deliberate choice — keep it solvent-free to protect the bio-based content. Traditional ECs cut viscosity with a petroleum aromatic solvent (Solvesso / xylene), but that is a VOC and hazardous air pollutant with zero bio-based content — the wrong fit for a natural neem product. The evidence shows it is unnecessary: stable neem oil-in-water nano/emulsions are routinely made from neem oil + surfactant + water alone. The preferred Lankem route is therefore a two-component, ~90%+ bio-based concentrate.
Option A — Solvent-free concentrate (preferred; ~90–99% bio-based)
Component | Function | % w/w |
Neem oil (technical) | Active / carrier (100% bio-based) | 83.0% |
Complete emulsifier system (5:1 oil:NOE) | 16.6% | |
Antioxidant (tocopherol/BHT) | Azadirachtin protection (optional) | 0.1–0.4% |
Bio-based content: neem oil is a natural triglyceride and the concentrate contains no petroleum solvent, so bio-based content is limited only by Agrosurf NOE’s own composition — giving ~90% at worst and approaching 100% if NOE is fully bio-based. The greenest option and the strongest marketing story.
Option B — Reduced-viscosity concentrate using a BIO-BASED ester (if pourability requires it)
If technical neem oil is too viscous to fill/pour cleanly, do not reach for an aromatic solvent. Use a bio-based methyl ester (e.g. methyl soyate / soy methyl ester) — a fully bio-based (~96–100%), biodegradable, low-VOC, high-flash green solvent already cleared for crop-protection use. It reduces viscosity while adding adjuvant function (wetting, spreading, rain-fastness, leaf penetration), and its neutral, aprotic character suits azadirachtin’s stability needs.
Component | Function | % w/w |
Neem oil (technical) | Active / carrier (100% bio-based) | 70.0% |
Complete emulsifier system (5:1 oil:NOE) | 14.0% | |
Methyl soyate (soy methyl ester) | Bio-based viscosity cut + adjuvant (~96% bio) | 15.8% |
Antioxidant (tocopherol/BHT) | Azadirachtin protection (optional) | 0.1–0.2% |
Bio-based content: both the neem oil and the methyl soyate are bio-based, so this option stays ~90–99% bio-based while gaining easier handling — a far better trade-off than a petroleum aromatic solvent.
Note on the ratio: Agrosurf NOE is dosed at one part per five parts neem oil, so the emulsifier level tracks the oil automatically (83% oil → 16.6% NOE; 70% oil → 14% NOE). In Option B the methyl ester makes up the balance to 100% and sets the pouring viscosity.
Lab procedure (reproducible on the bench):
1. For Option A, warm the neem oil gently (<45 °C) for easy handling. For Option B, first blend the Agrosurf NOE into the methyl soyate until uniform.
2. Add the Agrosurf NOE (Option A: directly to the warmed neem oil; Option B: the NOE/ester blend) with moderate agitation.
3. Combine with the neem oil, keeping the temperature below 45 °C to protect azadirachtin.
4. Homogenise at 2000–3000 rpm until a clear, homogeneous liquid forms; cool to 25 °C and filter through 100-mesh if needed.
5. Package in amber HDPE to protect azadirachtin from UV.
Verify on dilution: draw the concentrate into water at the intended field rate and confirm it forms a clean, milky, non-creaming oil-in-water emulsion. If any oil creams out, nudge the Agrosurf NOE up slightly. This single-emulsifier robustness — with no solvent to balance — is exactly what makes NOE quicker and greener to formulate with than a multi-component surfactant/solvent blend.
How the end user dilutes it (point-of-use)
The consumer buys the concentrate and simply dilutes it into water before spraying. Using the concentrate at the 5:1 oil-to-emulsifier ratio, the table below gives target in-use neem concentrations that mirror accepted horticultural practice (0.5% preventative up to 2% for stubborn infestations):
Use case | Final neem % | Neem oil / L water | Agrosurf NOE / L water |
Seedlings / tender foliage / patch test | 0.3–0.5% | 3–5 mL | 0.6–1 mL |
Preventative / maintenance | 0.5% | 5 mL | 1 mL |
General pest treatment (aphids, whitefly, mites) | 1.0% | 10 mL | 2 mL |
Active infestation | 1.5% | 15 mL | 3 mL |
Short-term spot treatment (hardy leaves) | 2.0% | 20 mL | 4 mL |
Soil drench (fungus gnats / nematodes) | 0.3–0.5% | 3–5 mL | 0.6–1 mL |
Mixing method for the consumer: add the concentrate to lukewarm water and stir/shake until a uniform milky emulsion forms. Spray both leaf surfaces at dawn or dusk (never in strong midday sun) and use the batch the same day.
Application area 2 — Horticulture & home gardening
A large and growing consumer market. Home growers use neem as a foliar spray and soil drench against aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, fungus gnats, mealybugs, thrips, powdery mildew and black spot. The concentrate is identical to the EC above; the commercial opportunity is to sell a ready-emulsified, ~90%+ bio-based concentrate so the customer only adds water.
Retail-ready concept: pre-emulsified bio-based concentrate Sell the concentrate = neem oil + Agrosurf NOE (5:1), packaged in an amber bottle, badged “~90%+ bio-based / naturally derived”. Customer instruction reduces to: “Shake, add one capful per litre of water, spray.” Differentiator vs. raw-neem competitors: no separate soap needed, no broken emulsions, consistent dose — and a headline sustainability claim. Optional label add-ins: a natural co-wetter for waxy leaves; rosemary/peppermint oil to soften the neem odour (both keep the bio-based story intact). |
Application guidance for the label: apply every 14 days as prevention, or every 7 days during active pest pressure; reapply after heavy rain; always patch-test tender/ornamental species first.
Application area 3 — Equine / horse care
Neem is firmly established in the equine market as a natural, multi-purpose skincare and pest product — which is precisely why a horse-care customer would be buying a neem emulsifier. The commercial equine range is built on sprays, rinses, shampoos, gels and hoof oils, most of which are water-based and therefore need an emulsifier. Key benefits marketed for horses:
• Insect protection: anti-feedant properties deter biting flies, midges, mosquitoes and ticks — heavily used for sweet-itch sufferers.
• Skin & coat: soothes itching and rubbing, restores the skin barrier via fatty acids and vitamin E, and promotes coat shine.
• Wound care: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial support on minor cuts, grazes and mud fever.
• Hoof care: moisturises cracked hooves and helps manage thrush and fungal issues.
• Hair regrowth: supports regrowth after rug rubs or scratching of mane and tail.
Lab formulation guide — equine fly-spray concentrate (bio-based, dilutable)
This mirrors established commercial equine concentrates (e.g. a 1-part-oil : 9-parts-water dilution making up to ~3 L of ready spray from a 300 mL concentrate, stable for ~7 days after mixing). A neem + eucalyptus pairing is popular because eucalyptus adds a fast-acting repellent note — and, being an essential oil, keeps the concentrate fully naturally derived.
Component | Function | Concentrate % | Notes |
Neem oil (cold-pressed) | Active / repellent (100% bio) | 78–82% | Keep temp < 45 °C |
Emulsifier (5:1 oil:NOE) | 15–16% | Clean dilution in water | |
Eucalyptus (citriodora) oil | Co-repellent / fragrance (bio) | 3–7% | Optional but effective |
Directions on pack (typical): mix 1 part concentrate to ~9 parts water, shake well, store below 30 °C, and use within about 7 days. Spray the coat avoiding eyes; pay attention to neck, belly and legs where biting insects concentrate.
Simple ready-to-use horse spray (DIY-style)
• 500 mL warm water
• 15–20 mL neem oil
• 3–4 mL Agrosurf NOE (emulsifier)
• Optional: 10–15 drops eucalyptus or lavender oil; a splash of apple cider vinegar for coat conditioning
Combine the emulsifier with the warm water, add neem oil slowly with vigorous shaking until milky, then add the essential oil. Shake before every use.
Application area 4 — Companion animals & livestock
Beyond horses, neem is widely used across dogs, poultry, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs for external parasite control and skin care. Products take the form of sprays, rinses, shampoos and shampoo bars.
• Dogs & poultry: flea, tick, lice and mite control (including poultry red mite), plus mange, itchy/dry skin and wound support.
• Cattle / sheep / goats / pigs: fly, midge, lice and tick repellent sprays; antiseptic wound support. Effective fly control protects welfare and productivity (flystrike can be fatal in sheep).
Evidence highlight — poultry red mite A peer-reviewed trial (Camarda et al., Medical & Veterinary Entomology, 2018) used a 20% neem-oil formulation diluted from a 2400 ppm azadirachtin stock, nebulised three times in one week on a commercial laying-hen farm. Result: mite populations fell by 94.7%, 99.6% and 99.8% after the first, second and third applications — with effects persisting over two months. Take-away for formulation: efficacy depends on delivering an even, well-emulsified spray — exactly where a reliable emulsifier like Agrosurf NOE is essential. |
Lab formulation guide — livestock fly-repellent spray (farm-scale)
A field-proven ratio used by livestock farmers is 1 part neem : 10 parts water, emulsified. Replacing the ad-hoc “squirt of washing-up liquid” with a measured dose of Agrosurf NOE gives a far more consistent, stable emulsion:
Component | Farm mix (5 L) | Function |
Neem oil | 500 mL | Active repellent / acaricide |
~100 mL (5:1 oil:NOE) | Stable emulsification | |
Hand-hot water (< 45 °C) | to 5 L | Carrier (added at point of use) |
Method: dissolve the Agrosurf NOE in the warm water, add neem oil slowly under agitation to a uniform milky emulsion, and spray along the animals’ backs. Farmers typically re-apply about once a fortnight. Suitable for cattle, sheep, horses and pigs; effective against flies, midges, lice, fleas and ticks.
A third product option — ready-to-use (RTU) sprays
So far the focus has been the concentrate (neem oil + Agrosurf NOE) that the customer dilutes. A complementary option is a ready-to-use (RTU) spray — pre-diluted, pre-emulsified and bottled for the consumer to use straight away. It commands a higher price per litre and is ideal for convenience-led retail (garden centres, equine/pet stores). But it introduces one critical new requirement.
Does a ready-to-use spray need a preservative? — Yes. The rule: any product that contains water needs a broad-spectrum preservative (against bacteria, yeast and mould). Only anhydrous — water-free — products can go unpreserved. Why: an RTU spray is >90% water, and the emulsifier, neem oil and any co-ingredients are all nutrients for microbes. Without preservation it will grow bacteria and mould on the shelf, turning cloudy, smelly or slimy and becoming unsafe. Don’t rely on neem to self-preserve: neem oil has real antimicrobial activity, but it is concentration-dependent and the azadirachtin degrades in water — so it cannot be trusted to preserve a dilute RTU product. Treat it as a bonus, never the preservative. |
Choosing a preservative — keep it broad-spectrum and bio-friendly
To protect the ~90%+ bio-based / naturally derived positioning, favour a nature-derived preservative system. A widely used, cosmetically and food-relevant choice is a sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate blend (the “Euxyl K712” type, INCI: Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Water), used at ~0.5–1.5%. Crucially it is only fully effective at acidic pH (~3–5.5) — which happens to be exactly where azadirachtin is most stable (pH 4–6), so a single pH adjustment protects both the preservative performance and the active.
Preservative option | Type | Typical use level | Notes |
Sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate blend | Nature-derived / “eco” | 0.5–1.5% | Needs pH ≤ ~5.5; aligns with azadirachtin’s stable pH — preferred for the green story |
Potassium sorbate (with pH control) | Food-grade | 0.1–0.3% | Mainly yeast/mould; pair with an acid; often combined with benzoate |
Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) | Synthetic biocide | 200–400 ppm | Very robust, standard in agrochemical/paint formulations; less “natural” but pH-tolerant |
Organic acid + acidifier (e.g. lactic/citric) | Nature-derived | to pH 4–5 | Supports the main preservative; not a standalone broad-spectrum system |
Note: Vitamin E, rosemary extract and grapefruit-seed extract are antioxidants/marketing claims — they are NOT preservatives and must not be relied on to preserve a water-based product.
Lab formulation guide — ready-to-use garden/pet neem spray (1% neem)
Component | Function | % w/w |
Neem oil | Active (bio-based) | 1.0% |
Emulsifier (5:1 oil:NOE) | 0.2% | |
Sodium benzoate + potassium sorbate blend | Broad-spectrum preservative | 1.0% |
Lactic or citric acid | pH adjust to ~4.5–5.0 | q.s. |
Water (soft/deionised) | Carrier | to 100% |
Lab procedure: (1) warm the water to ~35–40 °C; (2) disperse the Agrosurf NOE, then add neem oil slowly under high shear to a uniform milky emulsion; (3) add the preservative blend; (4) adjust pH to ~4.5–5.0 with lactic/citric acid; (5) cool and bottle in opaque/amber packaging. Keep everything below 45 °C to protect azadirachtin.
Before you sell an RTU product — validate the preservation Run a Preservative Efficacy Test / microbial challenge test (e.g. ISO 11930 / USP <51>) — it is the only way to prove the system works, and is expected (or mandatory) for consumer sale. Confirm shelf-life stability: check emulsion, pH, odour and microbial counts over accelerated (40–54 °C) and real-time storage. Use good manufacturing hygiene and a tamper-evident, opaque pack; consider a shorter shelf life (e.g. 12 months) and a “use within X weeks of opening” note. Match the preservative and any claims to the end-use regulatory regime (biocidal/plant-protection vs animal-care). |
Bottom line: the concentrate remains the simplest, greenest, longest-shelf-life product (essentially no water = minimal microbial risk). An RTU spray is a genuine premium option — but it must be properly preserved, pH-controlled and challenge-tested before it goes near a shelf.
The Lankem takeaway
Neem oil’s problem has never been what it does — it’s getting it into water, reliably, every time. That is a pure emulsification challenge, and it is precisely where Agrosurf NOE outperforms. Its uniquely stable, neem-specific emulsifying performance is the product’s functional value — and because the concentrate is built from neem oil plus NOE with no petroleum solvent, it carries a second, powerful perk: it is approximately 90–95% bio-based.
The same elegant chemistry — a 5:1 oil-to-emulsifier ratio with neem always below the water line — underpins every formulation in this article, across crop protection, home horticulture, equine care and animal/livestock health. One naturally derived concentrate, foolproof to use, that the consumer simply dilutes with water: that is the Agrosurf NOE advantage.
Interested in a sample of Agrosurf NOE, the certified bio-based figure, or a joint formulation trial? Contact the Lankem Agrochemicals team.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general technical guidance only and does not constitute a product specification, warranty, regulatory approval, or guarantee of suitability for any particular use. Users remain responsible for their own formulation testing, safety assessment, regulatory compliance, approvals, labelling, and end-use validation before using Lankem products in any commercial application.
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