Stop pests to stop crop loss

BASF discusses the insecticide landscape at the Science Behind Insect Control media event

 

To shed some light on the current insecticide landscape, BASF hosted the 2018 Science Behind Insect Control media event during the 2018 Commodity Classic trade show.

 

The event featured presenters and panelists from across the agriculture industry who discussed a variety of insect topics, including insect resistance issues, consumer demands and proper stewardship practices.

 

Here are some key takeaways from the event:

 

1. Insecticide resistance is very costly to growers

 

Insecticide resistance is a global issue that impacts growers in all markets. Each year, insect pests cause nearly $500 billion in crop loss. To make matters worse, insecticide resistance in the U.S. adds an estimated $40 million to total insecticide costs.

 

2. Stewardship is key

 

An important point discussed during the event was product stewardship, which is the foundation for BASF crop protection products. As Jared O’Connell, Global Marketing Manager, BASF, pointed out, insecticides have become a standard tool for growers.

 

“Insecticides are an essential tool for preventing insect damage. They limit infestations that affect public health and increase the quality and quantity of crops,” said O’Connell. “BASF works with growers to develop modern insecticides for use in pest resistance management programs.”

 

3. It’s important to keep a low profile

 

To meet the public and regulatory agencies’ demands, new insecticides need to have a minimal impact on the environment.

 

“In product development, we study each molecule for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) registration studies,” said Joseph Wisk, Senior Manager, Ecotoxicology, BASF. “Those molecules should have a minimal impact on the environment, but they also have to be effective on the pest.”

 

4. Introducing Inscalis™ Insecticide

 

As piercing/sucking pests continue to be an issue for many growers, BASF developed a novel mode of action insecticide geared toward quickly and efficiently controlling pest populations. Inscalis insecticide is an active ingredient that controls piercing/sucking pests in specific specialty and row crops by targeting chordotonal organs in antennae and joints. This mode of action rapidly stops pests from feeding, thereby reducing transmission of diseases vectored by the insects.

 

For additional insights from Science Behind presenters and panelists, or to get access to video recordings of the proceedings, please contact Odessa Hines

at  odessa.hines@basf.com.

 

Inscalis insecticide is not yet registered with the U.S. EPA or available for sale. 

 

Inscalis is a trademark of BASF. © 2018 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

About BASF’s Crop Protection division

 

With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. BASF’s Crop Protection division works with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others to help make this possible. With their cooperation, BASF is able to sustain an active R&D pipeline, an innovative portfolio of products and services, and teams of experts in the lab and in the field to support customers in making their businesses succeed. In 2016, BASF’s Crop Protection division generated sales of €5.6 billion. For more information, please visit us at www.agriculture.basf.com or on any of our social media channels.

 

About BASF

 

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,200 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.9 billion in 2017. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com.

 

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 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 five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.