Global Crop Protection Product Launches 2026: Biologicals Gain Ground and Rice Drives Innovation

By Nimish Gangrade, Editor, Global Agriculture

25 June 2026, London: New product introductions tracked by ‘Global Agriculture’ point to a changing R&D agenda, with biological technologies, resistance management and supply-chain resilience emerging as key priorities across the world.  

The first half of 2026 has offered an early indication of where the global crop protection industry is heading. An analysis of product launches tracked by ‘Global Agriculture’ across major agricultural markets shows companies increasingly balancing investments between conventional chemistry and biological technologies, while responding to growing concerns around resistance management, regulatory pressures and supply-chain security. The full list of product launches underpinning this analysis appears at the conclusion of the article.

While new active ingredients remain relatively limited, innovation is increasingly being directed towards advanced formulations, biological solutions and technologies designed to extend the effectiveness of existing crop protection tools. The launch pipeline also highlights the strategic importance of rice production systems and the growing role of plant health products beyond traditional pest and disease control.

Rice Continues to Attract Investment

Among individual crop segments, rice accounted for one of the highest concentrations of product launches during the period under review (Jan-May 2026).

The focus reflects the crop’s importance to food security across Asia, where pest and disease pressure continues to intensify under changing climatic conditions. New technologies targeted key challenges including rice blast, sheath blight, brown spot, grain discoloration, stem borers and brown plant hopper.

The concentration of launches around rice suggests that the crop remains a strategic priority for both multinational and regional crop protection companies. Continued investment in fungicides, insecticides and herbicides for rice production also reflects the increasing complexity of pest management programmes in major producing countries.

For many companies, rice is becoming an important platform for introducing both biological and conventional technologies before expanding into other crop segments.

Biologicals Expand Beyond Niche Applications

The strongest signal from this year’s launches is the continued expansion of biological products across mainstream agriculture.

Technologies based on microbial strains such as Bacillus siamensis and Bacillus halotolerans, plant-derived compounds including Quillaja saponaria extracts, seaweed-based formulations derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, essential oils and peptide-based technologies featured prominently among new introductions.

The significance lies not only in the number of launches but also in their intended use. Biological products are increasingly being positioned for nematode management, disease suppression, insect control, nutrient-use efficiency and abiotic stress management. Several launches also targeted crop physiology, including flowering, fruit development and crop recovery under environmental stress.

This diversification reflects a broader shift within agriculture. Biological products are no longer being developed solely as alternatives to conventional crop protection products. Instead, they are increasingly being integrated into crop management programmes aimed at improving overall productivity, soil health and input efficiency.

The emergence of peptide-based technologies and biological nematicides also suggests that companies are investing in categories that have historically had limited commercial options, particularly in high-value crops and intensive production systems.

Resistance Management Remains a Core Driver

Despite the growth of biologicals, conventional crop protection chemistry continues to dominate global acreage, and resistance management remains one of the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Herbicide launches were centred on active ingredients such as pyroxasulfone, glufosinate-ammonium, dicamba, aminopyralid and isoxaflutole. These technologies are primarily being deployed against resistant broadleaf and grass weeds that have become increasingly difficult to control across major grain-producing regions.

The emphasis on these active ingredients highlights an industry focused on preserving efficacy rather than relying on the discovery of entirely new modes of action. Formulation improvements, combination products and resistance-management programmes are becoming increasingly important as growers seek to maintain productivity under rising weed pressure.

A similar trend is evident in fungicides. New launches involving mefentrifluconazole, fluindapyr, tricyclazole, azoxystrobin, flutriafol and combinations reflect continued investment in disease management tools capable of delivering longer residual control while supporting resistance stewardship.

In insecticides, technologies based on chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, spirotetramat and flonicamid continue to feature prominently, particularly against economically important pests such as stem borers, thrips, aphids, psyllids and brown plant hopper.

Supply Chains Become Part of the Innovation Strategy

The industry’s product development priorities are also being shaped by factors beyond the farm.

Ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has renewed attention on the vulnerability of agricultural input supply chains, particularly those linked to petrochemical feedstocks, sulphur and fertilizer-related raw materials. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on supply diversification, regional manufacturing capacity and sourcing flexibility.

This shift is expected to influence future product development decisions. Biological products, which are often less dependent on petrochemical inputs, may benefit from the industry’s broader effort to reduce exposure to geopolitical disruptions and raw material volatility.

At the same time, companies are expanding manufacturing and formulation capabilities closer to key agricultural markets, particularly in India, Brazil and Southeast Asia. The trend reflects a wider move towards regionalized supply chains and greater operational resilience.

The launches recorded during the first half of 2026 suggest that crop protection innovation is entering a new phase. Biological technologies are gaining commercial relevance, resistance management continues to shape chemistry development, and supply-chain considerations are increasingly influencing business decisions. Together, these trends indicate that future growth in crop protection will be driven not only by new products, but by the industry’s ability to combine efficacy, sustainability and resilience in an increasingly complex global market.

Global Crop Protection Product Launches 2026

Count	Company	Active Ingredient / Technical / Technology / Group	Brand Name	Country Launched	Crop	Pest / Disease / Weed Target
1	ADAMA	Pyroxasulfone; SESGAMA™ formulation technology	Novali SC	USA	Soybean, Corn	Weed Management
2	ADAMA	Pyrasulfotole + Mefenpyr-diethyl safener	Marathon®	Australia	Wheat, Barley	Broadleaf Weeds
3	ADAMA	MCPA, 2-ethylhexyl ester (Group 4 phenoxy herbicide)	Phenatic™	USA	Cereal crops	Broadleaf Weeds
4	ADAMA	Imidacloprid + Bifenthrin; nano formulation	Galil® Nano	Brazil	Soybean, Corn, Wheat	Brown Bugs, Green Belly Bugs, Whiteflies, Aphids, Caterpillars, Corn Cicada, Sucking and Chewing Insects
5	ADAMA	Spirotetramat; Ayalon Formulation Technology	Ateka™	USA	Citrus, pome fruit, stone fruit, grapes, leafy greens, fruiting vegetables	Aphids, Psyllids, Mites, Scales, Thrips, Leafminers, Mealybugs, Whiteflies
6	ADAMA	Dicamba	Dicamba 4L DGA	USA	Corn, Soybeans and Sorghum	Pigweed, Kochia, and Marestail
7	Agronova Biotech	Bacillus siamensis PB12 and Bacillus halotolerans PB13	Peptiva Rhyzo	Spain	Soil Application	Nutrient Availability, Stimulate Beneficial Microbiological Activity, and Improve Soil Structure
8	Albaugh	Copper ethanolamine complex	Colonel XTR	USA	Turf & Ornamental Market	Algaecide – Aqueous Algae, Including Filamentous, Planktonic, and Macrophytic Species
9	Albaugh	Aminopyralid + 2,4-D	Malibu™ Plus D	USA	Grassland	Broadleaf Weeds
10	Atul Ltd	Azoxystrobin + Isoprothiolane + Mancozeb	Mylonis	India	Rice	Sheath Blight, Blast, Grain Discoloration
11	Atul Ltd	2,4-D sodium salt	Salix Gold	India	Rice	Broadleaf Weeds, Sedges
12	Atul Ltd	Azoxystrobin + Carbendazim + Thiamethoxam	Tikadis	India	Groundnut, Soybean	Soil-Borne Pests and Pathogens
13	BASF	L-glufosinate Ammonium;  Glu-L™ Technology	Basta® ULTRA	Australia	Tree crops, vineyards, vegetables	Annual and Perennial Weeds, Grass Weeds, Broadleaf Weeds
14	BASF	L-glufosinate Ammonium;  Glu-L™ Technology	Liberty ULTRA	Australia	Broad-acre crops	Broadleaf and grass weeds in LibertyLink® Canola varieties
15	BASF	Tricyclazole + Mefentrifluconazole	Kilymos®	Brazil	Rice	Rice Blast, Brown Spot, Sheath Blight
16	BASF	Group 3 + Group 11 Mefentrifluconazole 9.78% + Pyraclostrobin 9.78%	Balaya	Australia	Cereals, Pulses and Canola	Foliar Diseases, Including Septoria Tritici Blotch in Wheat and Net Blotches in Barley
17	Bayer Crop Science	Group 12 herbicide Isoxaflutole +  Diflufenican + S-Metolachlor	Convintro® Corn 12	Canada	Corn	Multi-Resistant Weeds, Waterhemp, Palmer Amaranth
18	Bayer Crop Science	Group 3 + Group 4D Deltamethrin + Flupyradifurone	Sivanto Energy	Canada	Canola	Flea Beetle
19	BioWorks	Blend of Eugenol, Castor Oil and Clove Oil	TotalNema Ax™	USA	Potatoes, onions, strawberries, leafy greens, and other high-value crops	Nematicide
20	BioWorks	Pyrethrins and canola oil	BioNex™	USA	Syllids, Thrips, Aphids, Mites, Leafhoppers, Scale Insects, Mealybugs, Bugs (Lygus, Stink, Squash), Whiteflies	Insecticide and Miticide
21	BioWorks	Potassium salts of fatty acids	Hoplite™	USA	Liverwort, Algae, Moss, and Lichens	Herbicide
22	Corteva Agriscience	Groups 3, 4, and 7 Inpyrfluxam 3.1 g/L + Ipconazole 4.61 g/L +  Metalaxyl-M and S-isomer 9.2 g/L + Difenoconazole 36.9 g/L	Lumiscend LUXE	Canada	Seed Treatment: Wheat, Durum, Barley, and Oat	Fungicide Seed Treatment With Four Actives Targeting Fusarium and Rhizoctonia
23	Corteva Agriscience	Triflumezopyrim 0.45% + Chlorantraniliprole 0.5% GR	Mavilon®	India	Rice	Brown Plant Hopper (BPH), dead hearts
24	Corteva Agriscience	FRAC Group 21 Florylpicoxamid; Adavelt™ active	Verpixo™	USA	Sugarbeet	Cercospora leaf spot (CLS)
25	FMC	Cyantraniliprole + Flonicamid	Sulexin™	Côte d’Ivoire	Cotton	Jassids, insect pests
26	FMC India	AQRION™ Technology Chlorantraniliprole 5% w/w DT	Resonex™	India	Rice	Stem borer
27	FMC India	Group 3 Flutriafol	Rhyme™	India	Rice	Sheath blight
28	Insecticides (India) Limited	Triflumezopyrim 0.45% + Chlorantraniliprole 0.50% GR	Granuvia	India	Rice	Stem borer, Brown Plant Hopper (BPH)
29	PI AgSciences	PHC68949 (Peptide)	TBL	USA	–	Parasitic Nematodes
30	Rovensa Next	*Not Disclosed	Luxyva®	Mexico	Horticultural, Fruit, Grain, Ornamental and Industrial Crops	Crop Management Under High Solar Radiation
31	Rovensa Next	Potassium Sorbate	TYPHOON®	North America	–	Botrytis, Downy Mildew, Alternaria and Phytophthora (Biofungicide)
32	Rovensa Next	blend of low-molecular-weight organic acids and a humectant	GALACTEK®	North America	–	fertilizer and soil amendment
33	Rovensa Next	Ascophyllum nodosum	Myndra	Spain	Fruit Quality Improvement	Stone Fruit, Pome Fruit, Citrus, and Table Grapes
34	Saffire Crop Science	Quizalofop ethyl 3.6% + Fomesafen 12% + Imazethapyr 7% SC	Pinaka	India	Soybean	Narrow-leaf and Broadleaf Weeds
35	Seipasa	Botanical Origin	Kynetic4®	EU	Broad-Acre, Woody, Horticultural, Ornamental, and Medicinal and Aromatic Crops	optimize the natural flowering process
36	Seipasa	Magnesium Hydroxide —-Mg(OH)2	Basei Mg	Spain	–	Powdery Mildew, Olive Leaf Spot, Downy Mildew, Pyricularia or Septoria
37	SWAL	AMINO ACID/NUTRIENTS SL	Bioclassic®	India	Oilseeds, Pulses & Vegetables	Stress Management and Crop Vigour
38	Syngenta	Metproxybicyclone	VIRESTINA™	Argentina	Soybean, Cotton	Resistant Grass Weeds
39	Syngenta	Group 30 Isocycloseram	Atexzo	USA	Turf	Abw, Mole Crickets, Bermudagrass Mites, Billbugs, European Crane Flies, Flea Beetles and Turf Caterpillars
40	Syngenta	Biofungicide – Quillaja saponaria	Quillibrium®	USA, Mexico	Grapes, Tomatoes, Berries and Cherries	Botrytis, Sour Rot, Powdery Mildew, and Alternaria alternata
41	Syngenta	Based on Ascarosides	Phytalix® by Ascribe Bioscience	Southeast Asia	Rice	Bacterial Leaf Blight
42	UPL	Spirotetramat	BOXADON™ 360 SC	USA	Citrus, grapes, leafy vegetables, onions, pome fruit, potatoes, tree nuts	Vine Mealybug, Gill’s Mealybug, Thrips, Pear Psyllids, Asian Citrus Psyllids, Aphids, Whiteflies, Scales
43	UPL	Group 31 Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus strain R3	Lepigen®	California, USA	Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts	Diamondback Moth
44	UPL	Ascophyllum nodosum	Opteine®	India	All Crops	Activates the production of flowering
45	UPL	Ascophyllum nodosum	Gaxy	India	Fruits & Vegetables	Improves FUE, flowering, abiotic stress
46	UPL	Plant extract, fulvic acid, amino acids, Inositol	PILATUS	India	All Crops	Nutrient Absorption and Plant Health
47	UPL and Elemental Enzymes	Peptide-based Biological	Strakor®	Brazil	Citrus	Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing or HLB)
48	BASF	IRAC Group 36 (Axalion® Active) Dimpropyridaz 120 g/L SL	Efficon®	Egypt	–	Whiteflies, Aphids, and Other Sucking Pests

Have we missed a launch?
Global Agriculture maintains an ongoing database of crop protection product introductions worldwide. Companies that would like to submit product launch information for consideration in future updates may contact the editorial team at pr@global-agriculture.com.

Also Read: EU Mandates Digital Labels for Plant Protection Products from 2028

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