October 28, 2011

BASFCrop Protection allowed Xemium usage in France, Germany, UK

The registration authorities in France, Germany, and the UK have given BASFCrop Protection permission to use the new fungicidal active ingredient Xemium for application in cereals.

Xemium has a peak sales potential of more than EUR200 million (US$283.4 million) per annum. It was developed by BASF and belongs to the group of carboxamides. The company has submitted the registration worldwide for this strategic active ingredient from its development pipeline. Xemium is distinguished by its high level of efficacy and outstanding distribution in the plant. It enables an increase in harvest yield and also improves harvest quality.

"We are pleased to be able to provide farmers in Europe with an improved solution for fighting fungal infections in cereal in time for the current season", pointed out Jurgen Oldeweme, Head of the Global Product Safety and Registration Unit at BASF's Crop Protection Division.

With France, Germany and the UK, three important European cereal producing markets have received registrations for Xemium, following their applications in 2009. At the same time as the registrations, the new production plant for Xemium was opened in Ludwigshafen. This will give farmers access to products containing this innovative active ingredient for the coming growing season.

One of the first products to contain the fungicide Xemium is Adexar, a combination with the active ingredient epoxiconazole which has been tried and tested for many years. Adexar provides farmers safe protection against all relevant cereal diseases. "In combination with the active ingredient Xemium, we are now able to offer farmers products for flexible and sustainable disease control in cereal and thus an improved and modern product portfolio," explained Ulf Groeger, Global Marketing Manager and Xemium Project Manager at BASF.

BASF's many years of experience with the chemical class of carboxamides, which work through the SDHI mode of action (Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor), aided in the development of Xemium as an additional innovative and high-performance active ingredient, much like the well-known active ingredient boscalid. In broadly-designed test series, which were carried out in collaboration with independent research institutes from agricultural organisations, Xemium exhibited excellent fungicidal properties and high long-term efficacy. For farmers, the results mean greater flexibility in application times, higher yields and improved quality.

In addition to European application in cereals, approvals for soybeans, corn as well as grapevines, fruit and vegetables are also expected. In 2010, BASF submitted further registration files for Xemium worldwide. Registration approvals from the respective national authorities are expected in the next few years.

With sales of EUR4 billion (US$5.67 billion) in 2010, BASF's Crop Protection division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve crop yields and crop quality. Other uses include turf and ornamental plants, structural/urban pest control, and forestry.

BASF aims to turn new knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF's Crop Protection division is to be the world's leading innovator, optimising agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population.