FMC Corporation and Bayer collaborate to bring Isoflex™ active herbicide technology to European markets

Rhea-AI Summary

FMC (NYSE: FMC) has announced a strategic partnership with Bayer to commercialize products containing Isoflex™ active herbicide in the European Union and Great Britain. The collaboration targets an estimated 30 million planted hectares of winter cereals market.

Isoflex™ active, a Group 13 herbicide, received registration in Great Britain in 2024, with EU registration anticipated in 2025. The product provides control of resistant grass weeds in cereals and other crops. Under the agreement, both companies will market Isoflex™-based products, with FMC focusing on winter cereals, corn, oilseed rape, and potato markets, while Bayer will handle winter cereals and oilseed rape segments.

The technology has already been successfully launched in multiple countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Pakistan, Uruguay, and India. Product launches are expected in Great Britain later this year and in the EU by 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

Positive

• Strategic partnership with Bayer expands market access in EU and GB
• Product already successfully commercialized in 8 major agricultural markets
• Addresses critical market need for resistant weed control
• Large market opportunity with 30 million hectares of winter cereals

Negative

• EU market entry delayed until 2027 pending regulatory approval
• Dependent on regulatory decisions for market access

PHILADELPHIA, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading global agricultural sciences company, today announced an agreement with Bayer to commercialize products containing Isoflex™ active in the European Union (EU) and Great Britain. The partnership will expand access to FMC's breakthrough weed control technology, offering European growers a powerful new solution for resistant grass weeds in cereals and other crops.

Isoflex™ active, classified by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) as a Group 13 herbicide, received registration in Great Britain in 2024. Pending regulatory decisions, EU registration is anticipated in 2025. The novel herbicide provides lasting control of key grass weeds, including those resistant to other herbicides, addressing a critical need in European agriculture.

"This agreement will allow FMC to expand market access in the European Union and Great Britain, which has an estimated 30 million planted hectares of winter cereals, reaching new growers and distributors with our novel Isoflex™ active ingredient," said Ronaldo Pereira, FMC president. "We believe that Isoflex™ active will serve as a vital new rotational tool for European growers looking to control resistant weeds, especially grass weeds."

Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will bring products containing Isoflex™ active to the winter cereals and oilseed rape markets in the European Union and Great Britain. FMC plans to commercialize its own formulations powered by Isoflex™ active in the winter cereals, corn, oilseed rape and potato markets, while Bayer will submit registrations and commercialize mixtures containing Isoflex™ active for use in winter cereals and distribute a formulation developed by FMC for use in oilseed rape. Bayer will jointly promote the Isoflex™ active brand when referencing their mixtures and formulated product brands.

"In the face of climate change and pressure on food systems, farmers need effective tools to control weeds," said Frank Terhorst, executive vice president of strategy and sustainability at Bayer's Crop Science Division. "Herbicides like Isoflex™ active play an important part in that, to eventually contribute to food security. We are happy to make use of synergies with FMC to achieve this goal."

The European launches will build on FMC's successful global rollout of products powered by Isoflex™ active, which have already been registered and commercialized in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Pakistan, Uruguay and India. Product launches are anticipated in Great Britain later this year and in the EU in 2027, pending regulatory decisions. Products containing Isoflex™ active have exhibited pre-plant, pre-emergence and early post-emergence selectivity in major crops across the globe, including canola, cereals, oilseed rape and pulses.

To learn more about Isoflex™ active, please visit FMC.com/isoflexactive.

About FMC

FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions – including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture – enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn^®.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

FMC and Isoflex are trademarks of FMC Corporation and/or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions.

Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:  FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained in this press release, in FMC's other filings with the SEC, and in presentations, reports or letters to FMC stockholders. 

In some cases, FMC has identified these forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "outlook", "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These statements are qualified by reference to the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 Form 10-K"), the section captioned "Forward-Looking Information" in Part II of the 2024 Form 10-K and to similar risk factors and cautionary statements in all other reports and forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. 

We specifically decline to undertake any obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. 

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SOURCE FMC Corporation

FAQ

When will FMC's Isoflex herbicide launch in the European Union?

FMC plans to launch Isoflex herbicide in the EU by 2027, pending regulatory approvals.

What markets will FMC's Isoflex herbicide target in Europe?

FMC will target winter cereals, corn, oilseed rape, and potato markets in the EU and Great Britain.

How many hectares of winter cereals market will FMC's Isoflex potentially reach in Europe?

The potential market reach is estimated at 30 million planted hectares of winter cereals in the EU and Great Britain.

In which countries is FMC's Isoflex herbicide already available?

Isoflex is currently available in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Pakistan, Uruguay, and India.

What type of herbicide is FMC's Isoflex classified as?

Isoflex is classified as a Group 13 herbicide by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC).