How MagrowTec is Solving Agriculture’s Biggest Problem
In a world where farmers face shrinking margins, rising costs, and increased pressure to be sustainable, a revolutionary technology is changing the game, using magnets.
Yes, magnets.
On a recent episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sat down with Gary Wickham, CEO and co-founder of MagrowTec, to discuss how this innovative company is reshaping global agriculture with a deceptively simple premise: make every droplet count.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Innovation
Gary Wickham’s story starts in Dublin, Ireland, in a household of nine. His passion for science was sparked by childhood Saturdays spent in a lab with his microbiologist father. From working with adhesives that held together space shuttles and smartphones to building a $300M business in the hospitality sector, Gary has lived the entrepreneurial journey at the highest level.
But it was a chance dinner conversation in Florida that led to the founding of MagrowTec.
The Problem: Pesticide Waste is Out of Control
Modern agriculture faces a massive challenge: up to 90% of sprayed crop protection products never reach their intended target.
This waste:
Costs farmers money
Puts pressure on the environment
Reduces yields
Fuels regulatory scrutiny
As Gary puts it:
“We're helping farmers be more profitable by being sustainable.”
The Solution: Magnetic Spray Technology
MagrowTec’s patented technology uses permanent rare-earth magnets to alter the physical properties of spray fluid as it moves through the sprayer lines. The result?
More uniform droplets
Reduced airborne drift
Improved adhesion to crops
Less runoff
Fewer chemicals, less water—more results
And here’s the kicker: the system has no moving parts, no wires, and no software. It simply bolts onto existing sprayers and starts delivering value from day one.
Why It Works: Science + Simplicity
The science behind MagrowTec is complex—think magnetic fields, droplet physics, and quantum-level fluid dynamics. But the application is brilliantly simple.
Farmers don’t need to understand every technical detail to see the impact:
Reduced spray volumes by 30–50%
Fewer spray passes needed
ROI typically in under one season
“Farmers are our experts. They told us what works—and we built around that.”
Proven in the Field, Backed by Research
MagrowTec has invested over $10 million in R&D and conducted trials with:
Trinity College Dublin
University College Dublin
UC Davis
Wageningen University
It’s currently used by farmers across North America, Europe, and Australia, with U.S. growth accelerating in places like Iowa, Georgia, Michigan, and California.
One Georgia cotton grower said:
“We’re spraying 1,000 more acres per week and giving our team weekends off.”
The Bigger Picture: Food, Water, and the Future
With the global population expected to reach 9 billion, agriculture needs to produce 70% more food using fewer resources. Water is increasingly scarce, chemical resistance is growing, and labor is harder to find.
MagrowTec’s vision reaches far beyond the sprayer:
Irrigation systems that reduce water use by up to 34%
Drone and aerial spraying innovations
Medical applications based on nanodroplet technology
A humanitarian push to support smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia
“If we can help smallholder farmers feed their families and stay on their land—we’ll solve food insecurity and migration in one stroke.”
Partnerships Are the Key to Scaling Impact
MagrowTec is actively working with:
Farmers and co-ops across the U.S.
Biological and conventional crop protection companies
Sustainability movements like MAHA (Midwest Alliance for Healthy Agriculture)
U.S. state governments and ag innovation hubs
This collaboration helps deliver what Gary calls the “third way”:
“We’re not here to replace chemistry. We’re here to help every drop of it work better.”
What’s Next for MagrowTec?
MagrowTec is scaling fast with a clear roadmap:
Manufacturing in the U.S.
New product lines for orchards, vineyards, and turf
More research, more patents, more partnerships
Gary’s personal mission?
To be remembered for enabling the sustainable intensification of global food production.
Final Thoughts
MagrowTec is what happens when deep science meets real-world farming problems. It’s not just a product—it’s a philosophy.
Use less. Do more. Grow better.
In a world that demands both sustainability and profitability, MagrowTec is delivering both—one magnetized droplet at a time.
Learn More
🌐 Visit MagrowTec.com
🎥 Watch How It Works (2-Minute Video)
👤 Connect with Gary Wickham on LinkedIn
📺 View Farmer Testimonials
