FMC, Kumiai expand collaboration on pyroxasulfone

FMC Corporation announces an expanded development and distribution agreement with Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., to extend access to the active ingredient pyroxasulfone (KIH-485). Expanded access will allow FMC to market and sell new premixes containing pyroxasulfone and FMC proprietary chemistries for a variety of crops, including: cotton, peanuts, potatoes, vegetables and wheat.

"As part of the FMC North American Crop business strategy, it is our goal to build successful key alliances,” said FMC Director of Business and Product Development Neil DeStefano. “This expanded agreement with Kumiai strengthens our relationship with a strategic partner and allows us the opportunity to further develop our crop protection portfolio to provide farmers in the U.S. with improved solutions for their problems.”

FMC is in the process of developing new premix concepts and reports positive and exciting results. New product concepts are anticipated for launch starting in 2014 and beyond. Two recent herbicides developed by FMC, Anthem TM and Anthem TM ATZ, use the active ingredient pyroxasulfone and are anticipating EPA approval in late 2012. A preplant, preemergence and early postemergence herbicide for corn, Anthem has two different modes of action, providing an excellent weed management tool for broad-spectrum weed control, resistance management and a lower-use rate range.