Agriculture

Unparalleled Standards in Innovation for Disease Management

BASF has been supporting farmers and farming for more than 100 years and we know how important it is to keep innovating. From an early stage on we actively steer our R&D pipeline towards innovative solutions that safeguard yields while meeting increasingly stringent environmental and safety requirements, anticipating future customer and societal demands.

With our product offer in row & specialty crops, we want to support farmers in the fight against fungal diseases. Having a leading position in the fungicide market, we are continuously searching for new solutions to help farmers #findingtherightbalance for success, for agriculture and future generations.

What are fungicides?

Fungicides in agriculture are crop protection products and used for disease management. These agents destroy or prevent the growth of crop-damaging fungi.

Importance and use of fungicides

While global demand for high-quality food and food quantity is increasing, fungi pose a major threat to crops as they can lead to yield and quality losses, ultimately impacting the global food supply.

They are the number one cause of crop loss worldwide. Key diseases such as rusts, leaf spots, molds and oomycets are only a few examples of more than 50.000 diseases that threaten plants and crops. Without the use of fungicides, around 13% of yield would be lost.

At the same time, farmers are challenged by development of resistance, changing regulations and consumer expectations for farm practice on top of more extreme and adverse weather effects.

BASF’s research is pioneering the search for new active ingredients fighting fungal diseases. For years, BASF fungicides like Xemium^® and F 500^® have been setting new standards for securing yield and quality. Our latest compound Revysol^® will provide our customers new options to control a broad spectrum of fungal diseases.

How to Increase Nitrogen Efficiency with BASF Fungicides in Cereal Production

How BASF fungicides contribute to sustainability

Intelligent plant protection offers significant benefits for farmers, the environment, and society by conserving scarce resources such as land and nitrogen. A specific example of this is seen in wheat production, where BASF fungicides can enhance nitrogen efficiency.

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, yield, and quality, and optimizing nitrogen fertilizer utilization is crucial for improving agricultural efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.

Extensive field trials have demonstrated that an intelligent combination of BASF plant protection products – based on new active ingredients such as Revysol^® – can effectively enhance winter wheat performance where nitrogen applications are limited.

How Revysol^®contributes to sustainability in wheat crops

With Revysol^®, farmers gain more flexibility to balance agricultural productivity and protection of natural resources.

Explore fungicidal modes of action for disease management

Azoles (DMI)

BASF has been highly present with impactful developments in the chemical class of azoles: the introduction of epoxiconazole marked a decisive chapter in the control of Septoria tritici, yellow rust and brown rust. The more recent launch of Revysol^® with an outstanding biological performance and a favorable regulatory profile set another new benchmark in disease control.

In order to develop Revysol^®, BASF established an innovative screening approach, to ensure that the new azole provides a high biological efficacy as well as fulfilling the high regulatory standards.

Learn more about Revysol^®

Strobilurins (Qol)

BASF was at the forefront of innovation when strobilurin fungicides were introduced, developing kresoxim-methyl as the first active ingredient in this class. This allowed BASF to launch the first strobilurin on the market – a milestone in the history of fungicides. We continued to focus on developing new strobilurines, developing F 500^®, which controls even more fungal pathogens in a greater number of cultivated crops.

Learn more about F 500^®

The newest addition to our innovation pipeline, Pavecto^®, differs from existing QoI fungicides, as it controls pathogens which have developed a strong strobilurin resistance. Pending regulatory approval, BASF expects first market introductions of customized formulations containing Pavecto^® in the second half of the decade.

Carboxamides (SDHI)

BASF also distinguished itself in developing fungicides from the class of carboxamides: Boscalid proved its effectiveness, working as a fungicide especially in specialty crops and cereals while Xemium^® helps farmers around the world to control key fungal diseases in various crops, including soybean rust and especially Septoria in cereals (or small grains). Xemium^® combines different innovative qualities, such as a high intrinsic activity within against a broad range of fungi and a unique mobility in the whole plant, making this active ingredient a reliable partner for the long-term success of farmers.

Learn more about Xemium^®

Microbials (BioSolutions)

BASF is also doing extensive efforts in R&D of BioSolutions, as complementary tools to our conventional portfolio, to enable growers meet the challenges of modern crop protection: from consumer food safety demands to ever evolving pests and diseases. BioSolutions are often exempt from Maximum Residue Level (MRL) classification, helping growers to manage the demands of food retailers and consumers to further optimize residue levels on crops.

The active ingredient Serifel^®, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MBI600, helps to protect against a wide range of pathogens including Botrytis, powdery mildew, Alternaria, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia, for a broad range of crops. Environmental compatibility allows Serifel^® to easily be integrated into a disease management program without limiting worker re-entry and harvesting schedule.

Learn more about our biofungicide Serifel^®