FEANEWSTURE
of 2008. The company posted a 33.3% J G Boswell. PhytoGen staff will be n United Phosphorus (UP) has collaboration on genetically modified
rise in agrochemical revenues to a operating from the site by the end of acquired the plant growth regulator, crop technology. The partners have used
record US$673.1 million. Chairman of June. Dow introduced its genetically chlorpropham, business of the UK-based Sangamo’s zinc finger DNA-binding
the board and CEO Avraham Bigger says modified insect-resistant WideStrike company Whyte Agrochemicals. Whyte protein technology to introduce a
that the positive crop protection market cotton through PhytoGen in 2005 . sells a range of chlorpropham-based herbicide tolerance gene into a specified
trends of last year have continued. “In This year, PhytoGen has introduced its potato sprout inhibitors in the UK. location on the maize genome. They
the first quarter, Makhteshim continued first early season glyphosate-tolerant UP claims to be one of the largest have also used the technology to control
to demonstrate its engrained growth Widestrike/Roundup Ready Flex variety. producers of the active ingredient the expression of a native canola gene.
capabilities, capitalising on favourable globally. It recently acquired Offshoot,
weather conditions and strong demand n Japanese agrochemical company a chlorpropham-based tobacco growth n BASF expects its “mid-term” eastern
in the crop protection sector,” Bigger Agro-Kanesho recorded a 4.2% increase regulator, from DuPont. European annual agrochemical sales
adds. in consolidated sales to ¥13,400 growth to outstrip analyst predictions
million (US$128.2 million) in 2007. n Dow AgroSciences expects its for the region. The company anticipates
n Monsanto and Syngenta have agreed Non-consolidated sales rose by 4.6% Herculex range to be the leading brand an increase in sales of 7-8% in eastern
to settle all outstanding litigation over to ¥10,400 million (US$99.5 million). in the genetically modified insect- Europe, against the 4-5% that the crop
the commercialisation of genetically Growth was due mainly to higher sales resistant maize sector by 2012. The protection market there is expected to
modified crops. The companies have of the soil fumigant, Basamid (dazomet), inclusion of Herculex in the eight-gene grow. BASF expects a boost from sales
entered into a series of licensing deals in Japan and exports of the acaricide, stack SmartStax maize, which is being of new products in the region, including
to enable the development of herbicide- Kanemite (acequinocyl), the company developed with Monsanto , forms a seven “innovative” products to be
tolerant and insect-resistant maize, says. Exports accounted for ¥757 million major part of the company’s strategy launched this year. BASF is focusing on
soybeans and cotton around the world. (US$7.2 million), or 7.3%, of non- to build a US$1,000 million maize seed cereals, fruit and vegetables, sunflowers
Among the litigation being settled is consolidated sales. business. The company’s growth plans and oilseed rape. Cereals and oilseeds
Monsanto’s action against Syngenta were outlined by Dow AgroSciences account for more than half (58%) of the
over the commercialisation of GA21 n The Australian company, Biosignal president Jerome Peribere at the Merrill region’s market, it says.
glyphosate-tolerant maize, Syngenta’s (Eveleigh, New South Wales), has Lynch Agricultural Chemicals Conference
antitrust countersuit and a dispute over entered into a non-exclusive agreement in New York, US, this month. He noted n The crop protection business of the
herbicide-tolerant soybean technology. with an unnamed agrochemical that the company was growing faster German company, DVA (Hamburg), is to
multinational for the evaluation of than the industry average of 4.4%, with set up its first pesticide manufacturing
n The Chinese agrochemical company, technology for the control of fungal compound annual sales growth of 6% facility. Work on the plant, which will
Rotam (Hong Kong), has launched its and bacterial pathogens on crops between 2001 and 2007. be in Sao Paulo, Brazil, started last
European operations by setting up a and seeds. The evaluation will be month. DVA Agro is investing US$50
UK-based subsidiary, Rotam Europe carried out by the multinational over n DuPont is expanding its Argentine million in the project. “The construction
(Stamford, Lincolnshire). The subsidiary the next nine months, with results agrochemical distribution network, starts a series of investments that the
will focus on the north European region. expected in early 2009. Biosignal is national media report. The company multinational is to carry out in the
Operations covering southern Europe developing compounds originally aimed will sell in regions such as the Pampas, country,” the company says. It intends
will commence in the third quarter of at the control of microbial “biofilms”. where it has not had a direct presence to raise its Brazilian investments to
the year. However, trials have indicated that the since 1997. DuPont presented its plans US$100 million and create 250 jobs by
compounds also have a high level of in several Argentine cities that will be 2014. Production of pesticide active
n Dow AgroSciences has acquired a US activity against fungi, the company new to its network, including Pergamino ingredients is to start in 2010.
research facility from Syngenta Crop says. Biosignal is developing synthetic and Rafaela.
Protection. The 225 acre (91 ha) site versions of furanones found in the EUROPE
in Leland, Mississippi, will be used for Australian seaweed, Delisea pulchra. n Dow AgroSciences and US genomics
cotton seed research by the PhytoGen The research was triggered by the company Sangamo BioSciences n EU industry groups have highlighted
joint venture between Dow’s Mycogen observation that the seaweed produces (Richmond, California) have a call by the European Parliament
seed company and cotton seed firm furanones to keep it free of biofilms. completed research milestones in their to consider the role that genetically
www.agrow.com • July 2008 5
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