BASF receives approval to introduce innovative new herbicide Luximax® to Australian farmers
- APVMA has approved world-first use of a product based on BASF’s new herbicide active ingredient Luximo®
- Australia’s first new mode of action for ryegrass in 30 years
- Pre-emergent control of all known annual ryegrass populations, including those with resistance to other herbicides
Melbourne, Australia – November 19, 2019 – Australian farmers will be the first in the world to experience Luximax®, the breakthrough pre-emergent herbicide by BASF, which has received registration from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Currently registered for use in wheat (excluding durum wheat), Luximax will be available to growers in time for the 2020 season.
“Australian growers are world leaders in agronomic practices, and we are proud to continue to support them by delivering the first new mode of action for ryegrass in 30 years. We are excited by this world-first registration, and what it means for growers to add another tool to their rotation toolbox,” said Gavin Jackson, Head of Agricultural Solutions at BASF Australia and New Zealand.
Luximax is a breakthrough in annual ryegrass control as it will equip Australian growers with the first unique mode of action in a generation. This mode of action offers more options for chemical rotation, strengthens existing integrated weed management strategies and provides up to 12 weeks’ residual control of ryegrass, including biotypes resistant to existing herbicide modes of action such as Groups D, J and K.
“Luximax provides growers with new confidence to control their annual ryegrass problem for months after sowing and will also manage brome grass and wild oats,” Jackson added.
More than 100 Australian growers have been running on-farm demonstrations of Luximax ahead of the launch and said it is a welcome addition to helping their sustainable weed management practices.
“Ryegrass is our big issue and we are seeing it become more resistant. Weeds are incredibly smart, we have to keep them guessing,” said Rob Byrne, a grower from the Wimmera region of Victoria. “We rely on companies to bring in new chemicals – if it was the same active it wouldn’t do a different job. We need a new group that will give us a few years without any resistance,” Byrne said.
Trial sites have shown strong results over the recent season. “Luximax is doing the job and looking better in between the rows,” Byrne added.
Powered by BASF’s new active ingredient, Luximo, the registration of Luximax, marks an important milestone in expanding BASF’s global herbicide portfolio. Registrations in other countries are expected to follow, pending approval by the respective authorities.
Luximax is the first of three new BASF herbicides being launched in Australia by 2021. The post-emergent herbicide Frequency® and the pre-emergent herbicide Voraxor® will offer new tools for the control of problematic weeds.
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2018, our division generated sales of €6.2 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.
About BASF in Australia and New Zealand
BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, construction, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €432 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2018. As of the end of 2018, the company had 552 employees and operated 12 production sites across agricultural solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for more than 90 years, and for about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/au.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
