US approves BASF’s Engenia herbicide

BASF’s newest herbicide, Engenia™, was granted approval by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Engenia is the most technologically advanced formulation of the active ingredient dicamba and will provide growers the control of more than 200 broadleaf weeds, including those resistant to glyphosate. Engenia’s introduction to the market marks an important addition to BASF’s herbicide growth strategy. The product will be available for use on dicamba-tolerant soybean and cotton crops for the 2017 season in North America.  Registrations in additional countries will follow.

Weed resistance is an ongoing challenge farmers face in a number of countries. There are around 250 yield-robbing weeds globally and finding ways to combat them has been as difficult as it is necessary. “We have to take action on several fronts using an array of technologies to support growers with weed management. New active ingredients and modes of action, as well as research aimed at discovering additional herbicide-tolerant traits, will help to support this goal. Advanced formulation technologies that encourage the most efficient ways of applying our products will also be a key tool for our customers. This is the way BASF delivers sustainable weed control,” said Jürgen Huff, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, BASF Crop Protection.

Although dicamba, the active ingredient in Engenia, is well-known to farmers, this new product will deliver improved on-target performance and reduced volatility through advanced formulation properties and stewardship practices. “Engenia is the result of BASF’s more than 50 years of specialized expertise in dicamba. The successful launch of Engenia demonstrates the vigor with which we pursue our stewardship programs,” said Huff. Such additional properties and benefits granted Engenia a patent-protected status.

In addition to Engenia, BASF is actively developing new herbicide compounds in different classes of chemistry, selected for their ability to control resistant weeds. One example are the new compounds to control PPO herbicide-resistant weeds. These will be used in conjunction with herbicide-tolerant trait innovations as additional rotation partners for a variety of crops. “Today, BASF offers herbicide products with 10 different modes of action as an integral part of our weed management portfolio. Our goal is to continue to investment and increase this number still further,” concluded Huff.