BASF Receives Approval for Biological Fungicide

Posted by Matt Hopkins|11 July 2011

LIMBURGERHOF, Germany – BASF’s biological fungicide Serenade was granted registration for apples, onions, and strawberries in the key agriculture market of Brazil, according to a press release.

The commercialization of Serenade in Brazil is a result of the agreement between BASF and AgraQuest for the license, supply and distribution of the product in some countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. The deal allows BASF to exclusively distribute existing Serenade products in these markets, according to BASF.

Serenade, the company’s first biological fungicide licensed through US-based biopesticides company AgraQuest, will arrive just in time to support Brazilian growers in the 2011/12 season. BASF expects registration for grapes, carrot, tobacco, in 2012/13 and other fruits and vegetables within the next years, according to the company.

Farmers told us that they were having a hard time protecting their crops during these important times,” says Philip Lane, head of fungicide research at BASF in a statement. “So three years ago, a team of our scientists and agronomists set to work to design a system to maximize disease control and application flexibility. With Serenade, growers can take advantage of optimum planting and harvesting conditions”.

Serenade contains a unique strain of the bacterium Bacillus subtillis that is produced through a natural fermentation process. Due to Serenade unique properties, it has a favorable toxicological and ecotoxicological profile that makes it an ideal tool for integrated pest management, according to BASF.