2015 Annual Review-Pesticides Registered & Launched and Analysis of Key Products

Multinationals focused on introduction of cornfield herbicide

Among the three conventional pesticides, herbicide always comes out top, accounting for 46% - 50% of the global pesticide market since the 1990’s. Grain, corn and soybean are the three major crops using herbicide, accounting for 48% of the total herbicide applications.  In retrospect, the newly registered or launched herbicide varieties of 2015 worldwide concentrated on applications to the three major crops particularly on the cornfield applications.

In 2015, Syngenta registered its epoch-making cornfield herbicide Acuron™ in the US. Acuron is a kind of herbicide recently developed by Syngenta, which contains four active ingredients- atrazine, bicyclopyrone, mesotrione and S-metolachlor. Among them, bicyclopyrone is Syngenta’s latest hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor herbicide, which effectively controls various broad-leaf weed and tough grassy weed. Acuron’s four active ingredients and three modes of action enable it to cover broader weed spectrum than any other products currently available in the market. Acuron is a key product of Syngenta’s $ 3-billion crop protection product line, being expected to generate a sales value of $ 250 million.

In 2015, BASF also launched its cornfield herbicide Armezon® PRO in the US. The herbicide combines Armezon®’s active ingredient topramezone and the Outlook®’s active ingredient dimethenamid-p. Compared with similar products of competitors, Armezon PRO is of stronger contact toxicity and residual effect, being expected for release in 2016.  Revulin Q (nicosulfuron + mesotrione) is a herbicide variety launched to the US market in 2015 for applications to cornfield after early seedling. Its unique dry blended formulation allows for easier use, being a good tool for cornfield against tough weed after early seedling.

Among the cornfield herbicide industry, the active substance dicamba should never be forgotten. In 2015, the cornfield herbicide DiFlexx™ (dicamba + cyprosulfamide) from Bayer CropScience was successfully registered in the US. DiFlexx prevents and controls effectively the tough weeds such as palmer amaranth, waterhemp, ragweed and lambsquarter, while being also effective against weeds which are resistant to glyphosate, PPO and ALS herbicides. The CSI safener of DiFlexx is a novel next-generation crop safener, which enables corn to be more herbicide-tolerant and enhances the roots to grow better.

As regards to the cereal herbicide of 2015, the halauxifen-methyl of Dow AgroSciences is a product worthy of note. Halauxifen-methyl is a synthetic auxin herbicides developed by Dow AgroSciences, which can be used as against broad-leaf weed in the grain crop field, being regarded as a new tool for weed resistance control. In 2014, Dow AgroSciences released the formulation of  halauxifen-methyl to Chinese market for the first time, using the brand names of Arylex ™ (halauxifen-methyl) and Quelex  ™( halauxifen-methyl + florasulam). In 2015, Dow AgroSciences successfully registered halauxifen-methyl in Australia and Canada in the respective names of GF-2685 (halauxifen-methyl) and Pixxaro (halauxifen-methyl + fluroxypyr) for prevention and control of broad-leaf weed in wheat and barley field.

Novel fungicidal active substance emerging, strobilurin fungicide mixtures remain mainstream

With the change of global food structure and the adjustment of crop structure, the proportion of fruit and vegetable growth are increasing year by year, resulting in increased demand for fungicide and also for novel fungicidal active substance. Novel fungicidal active substance represented by benzovindiflupyr was registered in 2015, which directs the orientation of fungicide development and the trend that it will become the mainstream product in the future fungicide market.

In 2015, Syngenta’s brand-new fungicidal active substance benzovindiflupyr obtained registration in the US and Canada. Benzovindiflupyr is a kind of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide, which is free of cross resistance to the existing fungicides, having performed well for wheat, corn and other special crops against diseases. According to Syngenta, benzovindiflupyr is the most potential SDHI fungicide to surpass azoxystrobin and to become Syngenta’s best-selling fungicide. In 2014, Syngenta launched the Elatus (benzovindiflupyr + azoxystrobin) in Brazil, which at one stroke became the most effective product against Brazil’s Asian soybean rust over the last 10 years. It is also Syngenta’s fastest-growing and most successful product ever in the history of Syngenta. Backed up by the outstanding product performance and the fast growing applications of benzovindiflupyr in Brazil, Syngenta lifted the product sales from annually $ 500 million up to $ 1 billion. In the meantime, the product production capacity in Brazil has been increased, and its  future great potentials should not be underestimated.

Apart from benzovindiflupyr, the newly registered fungicidal active substance in 2015 also includes oxathiapiprolin, which is a  piperidinyl thiazole isoxazoline fungicide based upon a new mode of action, as developed recently by DuPont, being effective for prevention and control of oomycete pathogens on potato, grape, vegetable and other crops. In 2013, Syngenta  executed a cross-license agreement with DuPont with regard to its benzovindiflupyr and DuPont’s oxathiapiprolin, which has brought DuPont and Syngenta together for joint development of oxathiapiprolin-related products. In 2015, DuPont’s oxathiapiprolin technical was registered in the US, Canada, New Zealand and China, to be released to market in the trade name of Zorvec™. Syngenta’s oxathiapiprolin also obtained registration in the US in 2105, to be released to market in the brand name of Orondis®. The brand-new mode of action, effective performance of prevention and control are surely going to enable oxathiapiprolin to become a star fungicide. It is expected by Syngenta that the potential sales value of oxathiapiprolin will exceed $ 300 million.

An overview of global sales of fungicide varieties of 2015  reveals the strobilurin mixture being mainstream, like Syngenta’s Heritage Action (azoxystrobin + diazosulfide) and Priori Top (azoxystrobin + difenoconazole), Bayer CropScience’s Luna Sensation (trifloxystrobin +  fluopyram), ADAMA’s Kusite (azoxystrobin + tebuconazole) and Topnotch (azoxystrobin + propiconazole), FMC’s Fame + C (fluoxastrobin + chlorothalonil) and Fame + T (fluoxastrobin + tebuconazole).

Strobilurin fungicide is a kind of fungicide of second largest sale volume, just next to triazole fungicide. However due to the singularity of acting site, the problem of resistance is rising day by day. In order to put off the resistance, prime manufacturers have over recent years released mixtures of strobilurin with other fungicide. In the 5 to 10 years ahead, strobilurin mixture will still remain as mainstream fungicide in the market.

Environment-friendly insecticide being a growing trend

With more and more stringent environmental regulations put in place over recent years, pesticide is developing toward properties of high efficiency, low toxicity, low residue and non-pollution, which is the case for insecticide, where majority of the global new registrations and launches in 2015 are environment-friendly insecticide.

In 2015, Bayer CropScience registered its novel insecticidal active substance flupyradifurone in the US, Canada and Europe for safe use on honeybee, which is released to the US market in the name of Sivanto 200 SL for applications to various crops, fruit, vegetable and soybean. Flupyradifurone is a kind of butenolides with systematic action, which is capable of prevention and control of sucking mouthpart pest, particularly effective against  neonicotinoid insecticides, being safe to use on honeybee, and may possibly to replace imidacloprid. In 2014, the product was approved for market release in the name of Sivanto Prime in Honduras, Guatemala, Dominica and Costa Rica.

ADAMA’s non-fumigant nematicide Nimitz (fluensulfone) was registered in the US in 2014, followed by successful registrations in Mexico, Israel and Australia in 2015. Nimitz is a novel functioning fumigant nematicide. Compared with existing nematode control philosophy, Nimitz has high efficiency and is easy to use for nematode control while being low toxic. As a contrast to chemical nematicide, Nimitz is very safe, and causes no impact to other biotic populations in the soil.

In 2015, Dow AgroSciences successfully launched to Brazilian market two spinetoram products - Exalt and Delegate, which are used for protection of soybean and horticultural crops against insect disease. Spinetoram is generated via fermentation of Saccharopolyspora spinosa, which is the second-generation pleocidin insecticide of Dow AgroSciences, being used for fruit, nut, grape vine and vegetables. Compared with conventional product, spinetoram is environment-friendly with lower toxicity, having been awarded the 2008 “Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award”.

Anthranilic diamides seed treating agent  getting popular

Seed-borne and soil-borne disease and soil insect can often cause 10% - 30% yield loss. Therefore seed treatment before plantation becomes an easy, economical and effective approach against seedling disease and insect damage. At present, seed treating agent is becoming more and more popular among farmers, which has attracted close attentions of more pesticide enterprises, resulting in increased product registrations. In 2015, all prime pesticide manufacturers released various seed treating agents to the market worldwide.

In 2015, Syngenta launched its world’s first corn seed treating agent Fortenza Duo  to the Chinese market. Fortenza Duo contains Syngenta’s dominant product thiamethoxam and DuPont’s patented insecticide cyantraniliprole, being capable of prevention and control of sucking and chewing coleopteran such as thrips and grubs while enhancing seedling. Fortenza Duo is China’s first registered insecticidal seed coating agent as against both sucking and chewing insect (including lepidoptera) at same time, which is of an epoch-making significance.

In 2015, DuPont registered in Brazil the corn and soybean seed treating agent Dermacor® (chlorantraniliprole), which is the first anthranilic diamides seed treating agent in Brazilian market. Dermacor® not only prevents and controls the common European corn borer and grubs but is also effective against GM Bt corn and soybean. Furthermore, Dermacor® maximizes GM seed’s gene segment expression, facilitates rooting growth and enhances stress resistance.

Arysta LifeScience has developed series of seed treating agent as based upon Rancona. In 2015, Arysta LifeScience launched Rancona in Brazil, Rancona Pinnacle (ipconazole + metalaxyl) and Rancona V RTU (ipconazole + carboxin + metalaxyl) in the US and Canada. These products can control wheat fungal diseases, facilitate seed germination and growth, as well as enhance seedling vitality.

Due to the large varieties of plant diseases transmitted by seed, there is a need to develop special-effect seed treating agent for specific insect diseases, like for viral disease and bacterial disease. Diversified seed treating agents need to be developed to cover various regions and specific purposes.

Seed treating agent registration is expected to become very hot in the industry in the 5 – 10 years ahead, which is expected to take up a considerable share in the pesticide market.





This article will be published in the magazine of 2015 Annual Review. If you want to know more themes and details, please click  the following picture:


Focus of this issue:
•    Exclusive interview of leading companies
•    Analysis of Industry Trends
•    Agro-Company Activities in 2015
•    Overview of registered and launched products in 2015
•    Analysis of Global Agricultural Biotech Industry in 2015
•    In Focus
       - Japan Agrochem Firms
       - Biopesticide
       - Biostimulant