Bayer Targeting 2028 For Australian Launch Of Icafolin, A Groundbreaking New Herbicide From A New Chemical Class

06 October 2025, Melbourne: This represents a major milestone in Bayer’s global herbicide pipeline and signifies Bayer’s commitment to delivering innovative crop protection solutions to Australian grain growers, following recent registration applications for the European Union, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

Icafolin-methyl is the first non selective knockdown herbicide from the new isoxazoline carboxamide chemical class, offering a novel solution to combat resistant weeds while highlighting the difficulty of discovering and delivering new product innovation.

Australian growers are set to be among the first globally to access this novel technology thanks to Australia’s designation as a “Priority One” market within Bayer’s global herbicide development program, which is a direct result of the long-standing Herbicide Innovation Partnership (HIP) between Bayer and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

“The HIP has been instrumental in placing Australian farming systems and weed management at the heart of Bayer’s global herbicide R&D efforts, positioning Australian weed species at the centre of discovery for the next generation of sustainable weed control,” said Bayer Crop Science ANZ Managing Director Warren Inwood.

“While Icafolin-methyl wasn’t discovered in HIP, the partnership between Bayer and GRDC has enabled earlier testing under Australian conditions, ensuring a better fit for Australian growers and ultimately accelerating the timeline for Australian grain growers to have access to a new non selective knockdown herbicide for this mode of action group.”

“We are progressing with local trials and are aiming for our first Australian submission in 2026, which facilitates a target local launch date in 2028, pending regulatory approvals. This timeframe will ensure Australian growers are among the first in the world to access this new crop protection technology.”

By investing in HIP to accelerate the discovery of new modes of action and embed Australian weed species and farming systems into the earliest stages of molecule research, Bayer and GRDC are ensuring that emerging herbicide technologies are tailored to local conditions from the outset, delivering more effective, sustainable solutions for Australian grain growers and shortening the time to market for critical innovations.

“GRDC welcomes the advancement of icafolin methyl as a new non selective knockdown for use in and around grain crops and its public release in Australia, which is aimed to happen at similar times to other countries,” GRDC Managing Director Nigel Hart said.

“As a result of GRDC’s investment through HIP, Bayer has been able to bring forward local trials to ensure that Australian grain growers are among the first in the world to access this new herbicide, which will be a critical step in managing resistance and supporting sustainable cropping.

“The HIP reflects GRDC’s commitment to ensuring Australian grain growers have access to the most advanced weed control technologies available globally.

“We can’t underestimate how important is to bring new weed management options to our growers with weeds costing an estimated $4.3 billion per annum or $203 per hectare on-farm.”

The HIP, established in 2015, is a strategic initiative aimed at tackling herbicide resistance – a challenge that costs Australian grain growers an estimated $3.3 billion annually. Through HIP, Bayer and GRDC have invested in new chemistry candidates, local trials, and scientific capacity building, including post-doctoral research cohorts in Germany.

Icafolin-methyl is expected to play a pivotal role in knockdown and burndown applications, helping to alleviate resistance pressure on glyphosate and support sustainable farming practices. It will complement HIP-developed solutions as part of a broader systems approach to weed management.

“Several promising herbicide candidates developed within HIP are progressing through Bayer’s global pipeline. With product development often spanning more than a decade, field trials are currently underway in Australia and internationally to evaluate these actives across diverse farming systems,” said Mr Inwood.

“Bayer continues to actively invest in these projects, ensuring HIP delivers lasting benefits for Australian grain growers through continued access to innovative weed control solutions well into the future.”

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