Corteva advances herbicide portfolio with UK approval and $300 million R&D investment

Corteva Agriscience has received approval from the UK Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) for two new selective herbicides designed for grassland use: ProClova XL and ProGrass. Corteva, one of the world’s largest crop protection companies, aims to address growing concerns over weed management in grassland areas with these new products.

The approval introduces two new active ingredients, Rinskor and Arylex, which will be used in ProClova XL and ProGrass, respectively. Robin Bentley, Corteva’s Category Marketing Manager, explained that the development of new active ingredients requires significant investment, with costs typically reaching approximately $300 million.

ProClova XL, which contains Rinskor, offers a solution for broad-spectrum weed control while being safe for clover populations. The presence of clover in grasslands provides benefits such as nitrogen fixation and soil structure improvement. Meanwhile, ProGrass, containing Arylex, targets broad-leaved weeds in established grassland. Both products will be available to farmers in spring 2025.

Addressing annual meadow grass with Broadway Ultra

Corteva also introduced Broadway Ultra at the end of 2024, a herbicide that combines pyroxsulam and mesosulfuron to control a wide range of grass and broad-leaved weeds, including cleavers, speedwell, and chickweed, as well as grass weeds like annual meadow grass (which was not part of the previous product, Broadway Star).

Annual meadow grass, a prevalent weed in the UK, presents challenges due to its adaptability. It thrives in fertile soils and is particularly common in winter cereal crops. Hugh Guinan, Cereal Herbicides Field Technical Manager for Corteva, pointed out that annual meadow grass can increase moisture content in straw at harvest, leading to delays and reduced quality. Guinan noted that Corteva’s trials have shown stronger control of annual meadow grass compared to other herbicide formulations containing mesosulfuron.

Broader implications for grassland management

These new herbicides from Corteva are part of a larger trend in the agricultural sector focused on improving weed management and supporting sustainable grassland practices. With weed resistance becoming a growing concern, products like ProClova XL, ProGrass, and Broadway Ultra could provide farmers with additional tools to manage grass and broad-leaved weeds effectively. The release of these herbicides also highlights the ongoing investment in research and development aimed at addressing challenges in modern agriculture.