Bayer applies for registration on new emerged-weed herbicide

Bayer has advanced its opportunities in the European Union by submitting registration applications for its herbicide icafolin-methyl, which the company says brings a novel mode of action to control emerged weeds on broadacre crops. The EU application follows recent applications in the United States, Canada, and Brazil, with the goal of launching Icafolin in 2028, with initial availability in Brazil.

Icafolin belongs to a new chemical class providing unique properties that allow for lower dose rates, more targeted applications, and is expected to demonstrate an exceptional safety and sustainability profile. In addition, Icafolin is complementary to existing herbicides, such as glyphosate, adding a novel solution in the fight against weed resistance, a top priority for farmers. Weed resistances have increased globally over the last years and are a threat to food security as resistant weeds are competing with crops on sunlight and nutrients, thus significantly reducing yield and harvest quality.

Icafolin’s intrinsic properties make it suitable for targeted spray applications and lower dose rates, which allowed Bayer to submit registration applications under reduced risk status. Bayer says this product is estimated to have a peak sales potential of around $860 million.

The herbicide has been developed for initial uses in soybean, cereals, pulses, and oil seed crops, as well as pome and stone fruits, tree nuts, grapes, and citrus. As a novel mode of action, it has unique properties and benefits. Treated weeds become “frozen” in the fields, meaning they stop competing with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight, but the dead weeds remain in the field longer because they largely maintain their structure. Bayer explains that this creates a mulch layer that helps prevent erosion and trap moisture in the soil. By providing effective weed control, it reduces the need for tillage, supporting regenerative practices in agriculture that can improve soil health.

“Weeds threaten food security and farmer livelihoods, which is why investing in game-changing innovations like Icafolin is so vitally important,” said Mike Graham, Head of Research & Development for the Crop Science division of Bayer. “Access to an entirely new herbicide class that complements the existing toolbox not only helps farmers combat and prevent weed resistance, but it also helps farmers adopt and maintain no-till and reduced tillage practices that improve soil health, which is a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture.”

This is the first product to utilize CropKey, Bayer’s R&D approach to developing new crop protection products, which optimized the formulation recipe by considering multiple dimensions including efficacy, safety and sustainability criteria, and farmer convenience. Bayer believes CropKey will continue to accelerate how researchers design instead of screen for new molecules, supporting faster development of future products targeting specific proteins in weeds, pests, and crop diseases.

“With CropKey we’re not just responding to current agricultural challenges more quickly, we’re being proactive and anticipating future needs,” said Rachel Rama, Senior Vice President and Head of Small Molecules at Bayer’s Crop Science division. “Leveraging artificial intelligence greatly accelerates our journey from concept to market, so farmers gain access to the most effective and environmentally responsible crop protection products.”