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Boscalid - a modern fungicide for specialty crops |
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Crispy red apples, crunchy green cucumbers, brightly colored roses - consumers place high expectations on the quality of food and horticultural plants. These quality standards can only be maintained if the crops are protected with fungicides against fungal diseases. The requirements placed on a modern fungicide are high. It must provide reliable protection, be economically viable and safe for users, consumers and the environment when used as directed. BASF scientists have succeeded in meeting these requirements. They have developed a versatile, broad-spectrum fungicide ideal for use in high-end specialty crops such as fruit, vegetables, wine and horticultural plants.
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With a market volume of approximately €2.4 billion a year, fungicides for these specialty crops represent a highly lucrative segment in the agricultural products market. BASF has long had a broad portfolio of fungicide products for use in specialty crops. What was missing, however, was a broad-spectrum active ingredient suitable for use on its own or in combination with existing BASF fungicides.
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A team of researchers and developers from the Agricultural Products division decided to take a closer look at the existing class of active ingredients called anilides. To begin with, the mode of action seemed promising. Secondly, there was a realistic chance of creating new molecules by modifying existing anilides. The breakthrough finally reached by the team of researchers was fueled by a combination of scientific curiosity and enthusiasm for research: They found out that introducing an atom of chlorine into a known anilide significantly improves efficacy. The mode of action of the newly created compound is very different from those of existing active ingredients, enabling it to combat fungal diseases in a way that existing fungicides cannot.
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Extensive tests with the new active ingredient, boscalid, demonstrate its broad spectrum of action against most fungal diseases affecting specialty crops. Boscalid is suitable for use in combination with other BASF fungicides, allowing many different diseases to be combated in a wide variety of crops. Boscalid also has a high level of environmental compatibility, as attested by its classification as a reduced-risk fungicide by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
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Boscalid is expected to successively conquer new market segments in Europe and elsewhere. It was first launched in the 2003 / 2004 season and is forecast to achieve peak sales in excess of €150 million.
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