FMC Acquires Global Rights to New Herbicide from Kumiai, Ihara

FMC Corporation recently announced it has acquired all global rights to a novel, proprietary herbicide from Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Ihara Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. The new herbicide is highly effective in controlling broadleaf weeds and will be initially developed for use in corn, cereals, soybeans and sugarcane in key countries around the world.

"We are very pleased about the prospects of this new molecule given its potential across many crops, application flexibility and co-mixture opportunities," said Mark Douglas, president, FMC Agricultural Solutions.  "This acquisition continues our strategic partnership with Kumiai and Ihara, two premier research companies that have developed a rich chemistry pipeline for new crop protection products that are critical for increased food production. 

"FMC's global organization will develop the full potential of this new chemistry, part of a robust pipeline of six new active ingredients that includes other herbicides, insecticides and fungicides," said Douglas.  "This core pipeline of new active ingredients is complemented by our development of biological crop protection products, seed treatment technologies and new formulations with strong sustainability profiles."

Kumiai and Ihara discovered the chemistry in their research laboratories and partnered with FMC during the last two years to evaluate and develop the commercial potential for this new active ingredient.  FMC owns all intellectual property rights to the new molecule. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.