BASF acquires proprietary technology for L-glufosinate ammonium from AgriMetis

 

 

 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, – BASF Agricultural Solutions acquired the proprietary Glu-L™ technology for L-glufosinate ammonium from AgriMetis, ™ an industry leader in biotechnological innovations for crop protection. With this technology, BASF will provide farmers with a more efficient solution and improved formulation to protect against troublesome weeds.

 

“The Glu-L technology builds on BASF’s continued commitment to innovative solutions that help farmers solve their most pressing challenges,” said Paul Rea, Senior Vice President, BASF Agricultural Solutions North America. “We know weed resistance continues to threaten farming operations, and this needed technology will help address this concern. It will also contribute to sustainable farming practices by reducing the amount of product needed to control weeds.”

 

With continued growth in the crop protection and seeds market, coupled with an expanding global population, it is increasingly important to conserve natural resources and meet consumer demand for transparency and food safety. Glu-L helps meet this demand. Today’s glufosinate products consist of the active L-glufosinate ammonium and the inactive D-glufosinate ammonium. The Glu-L technology converts the latter into active L-glufosinate ammonium. This makes the new product significantly more efficient.

 

While weed control with Glu-L is equivalent to currently available commercial glufosinate products, farmers applying the new technology can reduce the amount of crop protection they need to apply by up to 50 percent. This reduction will help create efficiencies for both farmers and the channel and make the distribution and application of the product even more sustainable than today’s solutions.

 

In addition, the comprehensive patent protection for this new technology puts BASF in a strong competitive position for the coming years. Glu-L has been submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will launch in the next few years upon agency approval. It will also be launched in other relevant regions.

 

BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division is continuously investing in its portfolio and researching new solutions that benefit farmers, the environment and society.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.