German chemical and biotech giant BASF has started the registration process for a new fungicide to tackle Asian soyabean rust (ASR) in South America.
The company said it had submitted the regulatory dossiers to register Adapzo Active (Flufenoxadiazam) to the relevant authorities in Brazil and Paraguay, with a further submission planned in Bolivia.
Specifically developed for the soyabean crop rotation in South America and adapted to growers’ needs, the new active ingredient was the industry’s first histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, the company said on 2 June.
Pending regulatory approvals, BASF said it expected the first Adapzo Active-based formulations to be available in 2029.
Farmers in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia produce 44% of the world’s soyabeans, but faced challenges from ASR, which could severely impact soyabean cultivation and cause substantial yield loss of up to 90% if not controlled, BASF said.
“Its [Adapzo Active] novel mode of action ensures full control of mutated fungal strains, which are currently a major and growing challenge for farmers,” said Ulf Groeger, vice president fungicides research, BASF agricultural solutions.
