Sumitomo launches ZethaMaxx EVO herbicide in Brazil

Sumitomo Chemical is celebrating 50 years of operations in Brazil by showcasing new products at Show Safra 2025. It was held in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso and covered by AgroPages.

The highlight is the launch of ZethaMaxx EVO^®, a broad-spectrum selective herbicide used in the pre-emergence stage of soybean crops. The product is formulated as a suspo-emulsion (SE) with the active ingredients: Imazetapir (Imidazolinone), Flumioxazin (Cyclohexanedione), and S-Metolachlor (Chloroacetamide).

According to the manufacturer, with this "exclusive triple formulation on the market and distinct modes of action," ZethaMaxx EVO^® provides broad control of broadleaf and grass weeds. This is because the herbicide inhibits the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme and protoporphyrinogen oxidase enzyme, thus affects cell division. The solution has an extended residual control effect, contributing to reduced weed competition during the establishment of crops such as cotton, corn, soybeans, and beans.

Another launch at the fair is Kaiso Max^®, an insecticide with a dual mode of action against sucking pests - providing both immediate impact and prolonged residual effect - effective against a wide range of pests, especially stink bugs. The product is registered for use on corn, soybeans, and sugarcane.

With over five million hectares treated since its launch three seasons ago, the fungicide Excalia Max^® features a unique combination containing indiflin, an active ingredient developed initially by Sumitomo Chemical, combined with tebuconazole. This formulation stands out as the best choice for disease management programs in soybeans, such as Asian soybean rust, target spot, pod and seed rot, stalk breakage, and end-of-cycle diseases (ECDs). It provides efficient control of the disease complex, resistance management, selectivity, and maintenance of the productive potential of soybeans and corn.

For cotton crop productivity, Sumitomo Chemical presents the fungicide Pladius^® at the fair, aimed at controlling ramularia (Ramulariopsis pseudoglycines). Considered the primary foliar fungal disease of cotton, the pest can cause a 35% reduction in productivity, and in extreme cases, can result in a 70% reduction, according to researchers from Embrapa Algodão.

Visitors to Show Safra will also learn more about the reference for seed treatment, Aveo^® EZ, which fosters a symbiosis with the roots, forming a biofilm that protects against nematode attacks (soil-dwelling worms). The biological solution produces substances that cause paralysis in juvenile nematodes, thereby reducing reproduction, and consequently, decreasing attacks and populations in subsequent seasons.

To promote more sustainable soil, Sumitomo Chemical presents the solutions MycoApply EndoFuse^® and MycoApply EndoMaxx^®, aimed at improving biological quality, promoting greater longevity, health, and quality.

"We have the most advanced and comprehensive solutions available for soybean and corn crops. Our booth at Show Safra will showcase the Smart Physiological Management Programs Soja+ and Milho+, which include personalized technical recommendations tailored to each crop for optimal management of flowering, maturation, and harvest. Our programs feature a robust portfolio of sustainable products that support ideal plant architecture, yielding significant productivity gains," explains Luciano Jaloto, Director of Marketing Brazil at Sumitomo Chemical.

Sumitomo Chemical also offered around 40 specific products for cotton crops at the fair, each designed to meet the different needs and challenges faced by producers. The company's commitment to innovation and the development of practical solutions is the focus of its "Agriculture Unites Us" campaign, officially launched this year.

Cassio Greghi, head of Sumitomo Chemical Brazil, highlighted the company's technologies for controlling diseases and pests in cotton, while also contributing to the recovery of soil health, which has been significantly impacted by climate variations in recent years. 

"Producers need solutions that not only combat adversities but also promote continuous productivity increases and the sustainability of their operations," Greghi said in conclusion.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)