BASF, Monsanto Collaborate on Dicamba Cropping Systems

Posted by Matt Hopkins|15 March 2011

LUDWIGSHAFEN , Germany and ST. LOUIS, Missouri, United States — BASF and Monsanto Company entered a new agreement to collaborate on the advancement of dicamba tolerant cropping systems. The companies have granted reciprocal licenses, and BASF has agreed to supply formulated dicamba herbicide products to Monsanto, according to the companies.

The agreement will facilitate further development work and subsequent commercialization of a dicamba tolerant system, which includes innovative dicamba formulations proprietary to BASF and the dicamba tolerant trait for soybeans, which is proprietary to Monsanto. The system is expected to be introduced in the United States and Canada in the middle of the decade, pending regulatory approvals, according to the companies.

Both Monsanto and BASF will have the right to commercialize new dicamba herbicide formulations optimized for use with dicamba tolerant crops and the right to develop their own mixtures with certain herbicides. In addition, the two companies will collaborate on the development of stewardship guidelines and best management practices for the dicamba tolerant system, according to the press release. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“The introduction of dicamba tolerant crops combined with improved dicamba formulations will provide farmers the tools they need to combat the yield-robbing weed resistance some are facing in their fields today,” said Markus Heldt, president of BASF’s Crop Protection division in a prepared statement. “Our next generation products will offer yet another step change in volatility reduction while maintaining the highest level of weed control. The system, along with proper stewardship measures, will ultimately deliver peace of mind for growers.”

Upon commercialization, the dicamba tolerance trait is expected to be stacked with the Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean trait. Monsanto also has corn, cotton and canola dicamba tolerant crops in its research and development pipeline, according to the press release.