Year In Review
bioinsecticide, VirControl S.f. [Baculovirus Fall Armyworm multiple
nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV)], developed in partnership with
the company, Simbiose, was launched on April 24, 2019, during
the 46th anniversary of Embrapa. For the 2019/2020 season,
Embrapa will launch the BaculoMIP-Sf bioinsecticide, made with
another Baculovirus strain, in partnership with Promip. These
bioinsecticides contain an active ingredient, which is an effective
virus for the control of the Fall Armyworm. Biosafety tests have
proved that these viruses do not cause harm to microorganisms,
plants, vertebrates and other invertebrates that are not insects.
The safety of Baculovirus insecticides, combined with the ease
of handling, makes these products one of the best biological
control agents available to farmers and creates more options of
bioproducts for them.
Keyun Biocontrol's (a well-known Chinese biopesticide
company) Fall Army-Lure received a special emergency
registration in Bangladesh in June 2019 to help Bangladeshi
farmers control the Fall Armyworm. “The Fall Armyworm
population is unprecedented in Bangladeshi agriculture,” said
Yingjie Zhou, Global Marketing Director of Keyun Biocontrol. “The
field trial results indicated that Fall Army-Lure has proved to be
an effective pheromone product with the highest trap catches
compared with other competitive products. The Fall Army-Lure
can not only be used as a monitoring measure to detect the
first activity of the Fall Armyworm moths, providing the optimal
spray time for conventional control measures, but can also be
used as mass trapping for the control of the Fall Armyworm, thus
significantly decreasing its population.”
Key word: Mefentrifluconazole
Mefentrifluconazole is the first novel IPA triazole fungicide
discovered, developed and released by BASF, which fills the gap
of zero release of a new triazole fungicide over the last 10-odd
years, expected to become BASF’s blockbuster fungicide towards
a sale of 1 billion euros. Till date, BASF has filed registrations with
some 60 countries across Europe, Asia and America covering
applications to over 40 crops.
The fungicide innovation, Revysol® (mefentrifluconazole),
is the first novel IPA-triazole fungicide, developed and released
by BASF, which fills the gap of zero release of a new triazole
fungicide over the last 10-odd years. It has the potential of
reaching peak sales above €1 billion. It features a broad spectrum,
high safety, superior control effect, high systemic activity and
lasting effect. Revysol® is expected to become an important
tool for efficient disease control and will be used to slow down
the development of fungicide resistance. It is praised as a new
milestone of fungicide resistance management. The company has
started the production of Revysol® at its site in Hannibal. With
an investment running into tens of millions of euros, BASF has
enhanced the existing manufacturing system to pave the way for
the launch of mefentrifluconazole globally.
Revysol is highly effective against important diseases in cereal
crops, such as Septoria tritici and rusts in wheat or Ramularia
in barley. BASF is applying for registrations covering over 40
crops such as oilseed rape, corn, fruits, grapes and vegetables.
In addition, BASF also plans to introduce a new Revysol-based
seed treatment agent to be marketed under the Relenya™ brand,
which is expected to be approved by the U.S. regulatory authority
in 2021 and then registered in other regions. To date, BASF
has applied for registration in more than 60 countries in Europe,
Asia and the Americas, covering over 40 crops. The product was
gradually launched globally since 2019.
Revysol is expected to become BASF’s new global blockbuster
fungicide with sales targeted to potentially reach above €1 billion.
Revysol has received registrations in the EU, the Americas, and
South Korea, with further registrations in Asia Pacific anticipated
soon. The active ingredient will be available in customized
formulations to enable farmers worldwide to better protect their
crops under various growing conditions. Revysol is available in
several customized products, including the Veltyma™ fungicide
in corn; the Revytek™ fungicide in soybeans; the Provysol™
fungicide in potatoes, sugar beets and peanuts; and the Cevya®
fungicide in grapes, almonds, pome and stone fruits.
“This is very positive news for the farming sector,” said
Michael Wagner, BASF’s business director of agricultural
solutions. He added, “Revysol’s authorization comes at a critical
time in what is widely regarded as an increasingly challenging
regulatory and disease control environment. It shows outstanding
field performance in both curative and long-lasting preventative
situations, delivering a new level of disease control compared
to existing azoles fungicides. It represents an important, stable
mode of action in the market.” It is expected that Revysol®
(Mefentrifluconazole) will be available in the Chinese market
in 2020, further ensuring BASF’s leading position in fungicide
innovation. Looking forward, it is predicted that this milestone
product, Revysol, will be as important as Epoxiconazole, launched
in 1994.
Key word: Pydiflumetofen
Pydiflumetofen (trade names: Adepidyn, etc.) are succinate
dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) developed by Syngenta. It is
also the company's fourth SDHI fungicide introduced successfully
after Isopyrazam, Sedaxane and Benzovindiflupyr, and a product
with great growth potential.
On December 28, 2019, Syngenta held a product release
ceremony for its fungicide, Miravis® DUO, which contains
Pydiflumetofen, a new-generation SDHI fungicidal ingredient,
marking the start of reshaping China's fungicide market pattern.
Pydiflumetofen is a new pesticide active ingredient for the Chinese
market, though it has been in the international market for three
years.
"Scientists at Syngenta discovered Pydiflumetofen firstly
from more than 9,000 compounds in 2008 and were amazed by
its extended spectrum and high activity. After nearly 10 years of
research, development, screening and testing, Pydiflumetofen
was first registered in Argentina in 2016. It was approved in 14
Annual Review 2019 19