Syngenta Announces Multiple Reduced-Refuge Products that Deliver Convenience and Durability

 
Syngenta  unveiled its refuge-reduction strategy that will deliver growers a single bag, multiple mode-of-action refuge solution that provides convenience and increased insect resistance management while recapturing lost yield from refuge acres.

The cornerstone of present and future Syngenta insect control and refuge solutions is Vip3A, the breakthrough new mode of action discovered by Syngenta. Vip3A, which powers the new Agrisure Viptera(TM) trAIt, is the industry‘s first Vegetative Insecticidal Protein (VIP) in corn, and is the biggest development to positively affect insect control and resistance management since the introduction of the European corn borer insect control trAIt. Thanks to Vip3A, the Agrisure Viptera trAIt provides the broadest spectrum of above-ground insect control avAIlable. The Agrisure Viptera trAIt has demonstrated highly effective control of the multi-pest complex, including corn earworm, fall armyworm, Western bean cutworm, black cutworm, dingy cutworm, common stalk borer and sugarcane borer, among others.

“Agrisure Viptera technology, developed by Syngenta, enables us to pursue refuge reduction options that meet three critical criteria for growers,” sAId Tracy Mader, head of product marketing, Syngenta Seeds. “Those criteria are yielding more than current refuge systems, increasing convenience and preserving trAIt durability.”

Both the Agrisure Viptera 3111 trAIt stack and the Agrisure Viptera 3110 trAIt stack have received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for a 20 percent nationwide refuge. This is a reduction from the 50 percent refuge traditionally required in Southern cotton growing areas.

Syngenta is developing data to support EPA submissions for additional reduced refuge products, including reduced block refuge of less than 20 percent, labeled Agrisure Refuge Renew(TM); and refuge in a bag, labeled Agrisure E-Z Refuge(TM).

• Toward this end, the company earlier this month submitted an application to the EPA for its Agrisure 3122* refuge stack, featuring multiple modes of action agAInst major above-ground (lepidopteran) pests and corn rootworm. With this application, Syngenta is seeking a reduced 5% Corn Belt refuge. Growers will have both the Agrisure Refuge Renew and Agrisure E-Z Refuge option with this stack. Anticipated avAIlability for planting is 2012.

Other products currently in development include:

• Agrisure Viptera 3220 refuge stack: Features two modes of action agAInst all major above-ground (lepidopteran) corn pests and a reduced Corn Belt refuge of 5%. Growers will have both the Agrisure Refuge Renew and Agrisure E-Z Refuge option with this stack. Anticipated avAIlability for planting is 2012.

• Agrisure Viptera 3222 refuge stack: Features two modes of action agAInst all major above-ground (lepidopteran) corn pests, and unprecedented second- generation rootworm control. Upon full regulatory approval, the Agrisure Viptera 3222 stack will provide a reduced refuge of 5% in the Corn Belt and will be avAIlable with the convenient single-bag solution, Agrisure E-Z Refuge. Anticipated avAIlability for planting is 2014.

“Planting refuge acres has been an effective way to help preserve the use of important insect control technologies,” sAId Dirk Benson, Ph. D., Head, Corn TrAIts Syngenta Seeds. “Our goal with these forthcoming products is to leverage our knowledge of insect control technologies, including trAIts, crop protection and seed care products, to mAIntAIn an IRM focus by avoiding single-trAIt refuge-in-a-bag systems while still listening to and acting on grower needs for simple, effective and time-saving IRM practices.”