Syngenta US: New Durastak corn trait stack approved by EPA

Durastak™, Syngenta’s latest innovative corn trait stack for corn rootworm protection, has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be available in hybrids from both the Golden Harvest^® and NK^® brands, and through independent seed companies for the 2027 season. 

″With corn rootworm costing farmers up to a billion dollars in crop losses every year¹, they need a trait lineup that is stacked in their favor,″ says Drew Showalter, Head – Corn Portfolio Strategy for Syngenta. ″The new Durastak trait stack lets farmers attack corn rootworm full force with durable, proven performance that will help them take control of their yield and profit potential for seasons to come.″

The new Durastak trait stack helps control damaging above- and below-ground pests with alternative modes of action for farmers to provide them a tool to delay insect resistance for long-term corn rootworm management. Durastak will also be delivered to the market in combination with Viptera^® trait technology, the most effective above-ground insect control in the industry. 

The triple Bt protein stack features three powerful modes of action against corn rootworm, providing enhanced control and improved standability for top yield potential. Syngenta research has shown Durastak provides:

• Next-Level Corn Rootworm Control: Hybrids with Durastak trait technology provide a 50% increase in CRW protection hybrids with existing Duracade^® trait technology under moderately heavy CRW pressure.²

• Improved Standability: Features 2x more root node protection for increased standability under moderately heavy CRW pressure.²

• Top Yield Potential: +9.7 Bu/A average advantage over hybrids with the Duracade trait stack under moderately heavy CRW pressure.²

″Corn rootworm can result in farmers experiencing, on average, a 15% yield loss per node of injury,″ says Showalter.³ ″The Durastak trait stack is a valuable addition to Syngenta’s top-tier corn trait portfolio, enabling farmers to take control of their yield potential with a more durable, long-term corn rootworm management strategy.″

Durastak hybrids are currently in late-stage testing within Syngenta's STEPP™ Trials and will be evaluated for advancement into pre-commercial testing this fall. DurastakViptera™ hybrids will also be available with all the benefits of Durastak plus additional protection against leaf-, stalk- and ear-feeding insects.

″This is just one of the many advances coming from Syngenta Seeds R&D, where we have an exciting pipeline of trait technologies, supported by our innovation ecosystem, which will continue to produce new products that help address the most pressing issues facing farmers,″ says Charles Baxter, Head, Traits R&D.

The Durastak trait stack joins an expanding Syngenta corn trait portfolio that is the industry’s broadest collection of trait technology, featuring above- and below-ground insect control, water optimization technology and Enogen® feed efficiency to help every hybrid reach its fullest genetic potential.

¹ Source: Iowa State University, https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/ashley-dean-erin-hodgson/new-trapping-network-corn-rootworm

² Data is based on 5 internal Syngenta trials; 2023-2024. Trial Locations: IL, IA and NE.

³ Tinsley, N.A., R.E. Estes, and M.E. Gray. 2013. Validation of a nested error component model to estimate damage caused by corn rootworm larvae. Journal of Applied Entomology. DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0418.2012.01736.x.