BASF Announces Liberty ULTRA Herbicide – Powered by Glu-L Technology

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, August 23, 2023 – BASF Agricultural Solutions will deliver the first trait-enabled, resolved isomeric postemergence herbicide with its introduction of Liberty^® ULTRA herbicide, Powered by Glu-L^TM Technology, to the U.S. marketplace.

Liberty ULTRA herbicide will effectively control grasses and tough broadleaf weeds like waterhemp, palmer amaranth, giant ragweed and kochia in glufosinate-tolerant soybeans, cotton, canola, and corn. Registration is anticipated in late 2023, enabling a targeted launch in 2024 and a full launch in 2025. 

The introduction of Liberty ULTRA herbicide will pave the way for several Glu-L Technology based premix herbicides to come from BASF within the decade. Glu-L Technology removes the inactive D isomer and concentrates the herbicidally active L isomer to enable a 25% use rate reduction compared to currently available glufosinate herbicides. This innovation packs the power of 32 fluid ounces of Liberty herbicide into a convenient 24 fluid ounces of Liberty ULTRA herbicide.

“Liberty ULTRA improves upon the Liberty herbicide formulation to give the American farmer the best Liberty herbicide BASF has ever sold,” said Liam Vincent, Technical Marketing Manager for BASF. “The specific combination of solvents and surfactants added to the Liberty herbicide formulation creates a significant weed control advantage over generic glufosinate herbicides.”

The formulation locks more droplets onto weed leaves for better leaf coverage with every pass. Once the leaf is covered, the proprietary formulation has also been shown to drive nearly three times more herbicide into weeds¹ compared to generic glufosinate products.

Today, Liberty herbicide holds the leadership position in terms of glufosinate weed control efficacy across several traited crops.² Liberty ULTRA herbicide represents a step change in the way glufosinate is manufactured and sold and will eventually replace the racemic mixture of Liberty herbicide.

“Liberty herbicide today is the most broadly enabled and effective knockdown option available across traited row crop acres, and Liberty ULTRA will improve upon that legacy by adding operational convenience and more consistent weed control performance,” said Matt Malone, senior product manager for BASF.

For more information about Liberty ULTRA Herbicide, powered by Glu-L Technology, contact your local BASF representative or visit liberty-ultra.us.

_{¹ BASF lab and growth chamber study to evaluate penetration and absorption of glufosinate formulations, 2023. Analysis of active ingredient within the leaves of pigweed 4 hours after glufosinate was applied.}

_{² Claim is derived from the results of herbicide research trials with the following code: MKD-H-2022-D43B-01.0-US. Locations (12): ND (3), NE, MO, VA, MN, OH, IN, MI, IL, IA). Weed Size: 1-8", 5.25" average. Weed Species (41). GPA: 15, Nozzle: Turbo TeeJet, Adjuvants: 1.5-3 lbs AMS/A}

Always read and follow label directions.

Glu-L Technology, Liberty herbicide and Liberty ULTRA herbicide are registered trademarks of BASF Corporation. L-glufosinate is not currently registered for sale or use in the United States and is not being offered for sale. Liberty® ULTRA Herbicide is not currently registered for sale or use in the United States and is not being offered for sale. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to promote the sale of these products. Any sale of these products after registration is obtained shall be based solely on the EPA-approved product labels, and any claims regarding product safety and efficacy shall be addressed solely by the labels. ©2023 BASF. All Rights Reserved.  

© 2023 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2022, our division generated sales of €10.3 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,000 employees in North America and had sales of $25.7 billion in 2022. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.