BASF and Corteva Agriscience complete licensing agreement on Clearfield Plus Production System for sunflowers

BASF and Corteva Agriscience™, the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, have completed a licensing agreement for the Clearfield® Plus Production System for sunflowers that will deliver new options to sunflower growers worldwide. BASF has granted Corteva Agriscience a global commercial license to develop sunflower hybrids tolerant to BASF’s Clearfield Plus herbicides in all Corteva Agriscience seed brands throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, the United States and Latin America.

“As the sunflower market continues to expand globally, growers need advanced and sustainable solutions to help protect yields against competition from weeds,” said Larry Robertson, Global Business Portfolio Leader – Oilseeds, Corteva Agriscience. “This agreement enables Corteva Agriscience to offer customers integrated seed and crop protection solutions that provide broader choices for weed control in all of our brands worldwide. Growers will benefit from the combination of proven innovative weed control and the industry’s widest selection of advanced genetics in this important consumer crop.”

The Clearfield Plus Production System for sunflowers combines tolerant hybrids, developed through traditional breeding methods in elite genetics, with tailor-made, locally optimized herbicides. When paired with robust stewardship and qualification programs, it delivers season-long weed control and greater crop tolerance across environmental stresses, as well as the potential for increased oil content and grain yield.

“Our collaboration with Corteva Agriscience exemplifies BASF’s commitment to innovative partnerships that increase the global reach of one of the most effective herbicide treatments and stewardship programs for sunflowers,” said Jonathan Bryant, Vice President Global Strategic Marketing, Seed & Traits, Herbicides, BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division. “We are dedicated to creating viable solutions that provide growers with opportunities to increase access and use of innovative technologies to increase sustainable yields.”

Pioneer® and Brevant™ brand seed products by Corteva Agriscience developed with the Clearfield Plus Production System will be available to sunflower growers beginning this season.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.