BASF row and specialty crop insecticide with same active ingredient as greenhouse product receives EPA registration

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — BASF has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for its Inscalis insecticide. The new insecticide controls piercing-sucking insect pests in a variety of row and specialty crops, including soybeans, cotton and citrus.

The Inscalis active ingredient was discovered by the Japanese company Meiji Seika Pharma Co. Ltd (Meiji) and the Kitasato Institute, specifically 2015 Nobel Prize recipient, Doctor Satoshi Omura, and co-developed with Meiji. The active ingredient will power Versys insecticide, Sefina insecticide and Ventigra insecticide. These products will be available for a broad range of crops and crop groups. Versys insecticide is labeled for use on brassica, leafy vegetables, pome and stone fruit, and will target aphids and whiteflies. Sefina insecticide, labeled for use on citrus, cotton, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables and soybeans, targets all three pests, primarily focusing on the Asian citrus psyllid and whiteflies. Ventigra insecticide is for use in greenhouse and nursery production, and ornamental landscapes.

“Inscalis insecticide is a new active ingredient with a unique mode of action that provides effective control of devastating piercing-sucking insect pests, such as aphids, whiteflies and certain psyllids,” said Christa Kirk, BASF technical market manager. “Once these insects infiltrate a field, they can cause costly damage to the quality and yield of a crop. Farmers can choose from several Inscalis formulations as part of their resistance and integrated pest management plans, giving them more operational control over their crops.”

Since insecticide resistance is now more widespread, Inscalis also meets farmers’ demands for new tools to control insects in their fields. According to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC), insecticide resistance has added $40 million to the total insecticide bill for farmers in additional and alternative applications.

“As piercing-sucking pests become more diverse and adaptable, it’s more important than ever to continue to develop new tools that will meet a farmer’s ever-changing needs,” Kirk said.

The chemistry’s unique formulation works by moving through the leaf to control pests that may be living on the underside of leaves. Inscalis insecticide’s fast onset of action causes insect feeding to quickly stop, limiting the spread of damage and transmission of viral pathogens. In addition, Inscalis insecticide boasts a favorable environmental profile with low toxicity to beneficial insects, including pollinators.