Approval expected for new cereal fungicides

Japanese crop protection company Sumitomo Chemical expects to secure approval for a number of new cereal fungicides on UK farms.

Sumitomo already markets a portfolio of agrochemical products in the UK. It includes Soleil, a combination bromuconazole and tebuconazole for rust and fusarium control in wheat; Dipel, which combats lepidoptera; and the pyrethroid Sven.

In the pipeline are a number of new conventional active ingredients. Those in the approval system are two fungicides targeting key diseases such as Septoria, net blotch, ramularia and rusts – with more planned.

New actives

“We are currently working with key organisations such as NIAB and ADAS on trials to further optimise the potential of these products and we hope to present our data on these new actives in the near future,” says Sumitomo business manager Simon Leak.

Although relatively little know in the UK, Sumitomo has over 30,000 employees working in more than 150 group companies around the world. It is ranked eighth globally for agrochemicals with a $3.5bn annual turnover.               

Alberto Ancora, general manager of Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe, says the company aims to strengthen its UK presence. Beyond conventional agrochemicals, it is also investing in biorational products – low impact crop protectants.

“We see significant potential in combining conventional chemistry with new biorational strategies as an ideal solution for sustainable farming. Although Sumitomo may be a new name to many UK farmers and agronomists, we have a rich history.

Farming remained a challenging profession, said Mr Ancora. It required numerous skills, passion and entrepreneurship. “Farmers will need to focus on greater sustainability by integrating traditional chemistry with successful biorational solutions.”