What is Icafolin-Methyl?
24 August 2025, New Delhi: Icafolin-methyl is a new herbicide developed to provide farmers with a fresh solution for weed management. It is significant because it brings the first new mode of action for post-emergent weed control in more than 30 years, addressing the urgent issue of herbicide resistance.
How it Works
When applied, Icafolin-methyl causes weeds to stop growing and competing with crops for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Instead of collapsing quickly, the weeds remain upright in a “frozen” state, forming a mulch-like layer. This layer helps retain soil moisture, reduce erosion, and create better conditions for crop growth.
Crops Where It Can Be Used
The herbicide is being designed for use in a wide range of crops, including:
- Field crops such as soybean, cereals, pulses, and oilseeds.
- Horticultural crops such as grapes, citrus, pome fruits, stone fruits, and tree nuts.
Why It Matters
Weeds resistant to existing herbicides are spreading globally, threatening yields and increasing production costs. Icafolin-methyl offers a new chemical class that works in combination with older herbicides like glyphosate, giving farmers more options to manage resistance.
It also supports no-till and reduced tillage systems, which are important for regenerative agriculture practices that improve soil health and sustainability.
Who is Developing It
Icafolin-methyl is being developed by Bayer, one of the world’s leading agricultural science companies. It is also the first herbicide to come from Bayer’s CropKey research platform, which uses artificial intelligence to design new crop protection solutions with safety, sustainability, and farmer needs in mind.
Bayer has submitted regulatory applications for Icafolin-methyl in several countries, including Brazil, the United States, Canada, and the European Union. If approvals are granted, the first launch is expected in Brazil from 2028 onward, followed by other markets.
Also Read: Delhi High Court Eases Rules for Biostimulant Companies, Ensures Supply for Farmers
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