BASF announced the launch of its new fungicide, Belanty (mefentrifluconazole, trade-marked as Revysol) in Colombia. Belanty will offer rice farmers higher yields while ensuring fewer diseases and using less water.
Óscar Gutiérrez (BASF Expert) explained, “Belanty has a new active ingredient, which helps combat resistance in phytopathogenic fungi. It is a new generation fungicide that has high selectivity, which can be used in the cultivation of rice. Among its chemical characteristics is its high mobility.”
To test the chemical, initial studies were carried out in Tolima, in the municipalities of Alvarado, Piedras, San Luis and Saldaña between 2016 and 2017.
“Estimated losses under current methods to control diseases can range between 7% and 10%. Because of the characteristics of Belanty and according to various studies, this percentage can vary from only 3% to 5%,” Gutierrez added while stressing that the company’s current promise is to ensure better control of crops.
“We define it as an intelligent product because it has a unique isopropanol link that can control a broad spectrum of fungal diseases and DMI-resistant strains. It is the first fungicide in the world that offers such benefits,” noted Gutiérrez.
Another feature of the product is that due to its resistance to rain, UV rays and temperature variations, it will enable farmers to minimize the effects of bad weather.
Belanty utilizes BASF’s new active ingredient, Revysol®, which is expected to become the company’s new global blockbuster fungicide, with a targeted peak sales potential above €1 billion globally.
Along with Australia, BASF has attained registrations in the European Union (EU), the Americas and South Korea, with further registrations in the Asia-Pacific coming soon, covering over 40 crops. The active ingredient will also be available in customized formulations, to enable farmers from around the world to better protect their crops under various growing conditions.
Colombia is the first country in the world where the product has been launched.