German chemical giant BASF and agriculture and nutrition specialist FMC Corporation, based in the US state of Pennsylvania have agreed to cooperate on bringing novel in-furrow crop protection products to the US corn market. The two players said they will integrate their market-leading insect and disease protection technologies into new products formulated with FMC’s patented LFR technology.

In announcing the plans, BASF and FMC said their alliance will deliver “unprecedented” in-furrow insect and disease protection. New products are to include “market-leading active ingredients,” the same technology found in BASF’s Headline fungicide and FMC’s proprietary LFR formulations in its Capture LFR insecticide.

Each partner will market its own products resulting from the cooperation. In 2017, BASF will launch Manticor LFR In-Furrow Fungicide/Insecticide and FMC will launch Temitry LFR Insecticide/Fungicide. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already granted registration has been granted for both products.

The collaboration combines the core competencies of two market leaders, allowing both to help customers take yields and profits to the next level, said Rick Ekins, fungicide and insecticide portfolio manager for FMC. The US group is an in-furrow formulations technology leader and the German group a leader in a fungicide active ingredients.