Bayer has taken the first steps in bringing a new herbicide to market, submitting registration applications in four major agricultural regions: the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and now, the European Union. The application process ensures that government agencies in each region review and approve the product for safe use in crop production.
Icafolin-methyl is a new herbicide that employs a mode of action not seen in commercial agriculture in over 30 years, Bayer says in a news release. The company says the novel mode of action to control emerged weeds meets the highest safety and sustainability criteria of CropKey, Bayer’s novel R&D approach for crop protection products. Icafolin belongs to a new chemical class providing unique properties that allow for lower dose rates, more targeted applications, and is expected to demonstrate an exceptional safety and sustainability profile.
A mode of action refers to how a herbicide kills weeds at the molecular level. Bayer says it has been designed to be highly effective at low dose rates, compatible with reduced-tillage practices and supportive of soil health and sustainability goals. This approach uses artificial intelligence to design new active ingredients more quickly and efficiently, and Bayer claims this will also accelerate future product development.
“With CropKey, we’re not just responding to current agricultural challenges more quickly, we’re being proactive and anticipating future needs,” says Rachel Rama, senior vice president and head of small molecules for Bayer’s crop science division. “Leveraging artificial intelligence greatly accelerates our journey from concept to market, so farmers gain access to the most effective and environmentally responsible crop protection products.”
Registration Application
Before a crop protection product such as icafolin can be sold and used, it must be evaluated and approved by regulators in each country or region. These agencies — such as EPA in the U.S. or Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency — examine data on how the product works, how safe it is for humans and the environment, and how it should be used.
Submitting an application is the first official step of this process. Bayer is now waiting for regulatory agencies to complete their review, with projections for initial release in Brazil in 2028. If approved, farmers will be able to use the product according to the label and restrictions set by regulators.
Why This Matters
As more weeds adapt to survive common herbicides such as glyphosate, farmers have fewer effective tools to manage them.
“Weeds threaten food security and farmer livelihoods, which is why investing in game-changing innovations like icafolin is so vitally important,” says Mike Graham, head of research and development for the crop science division of Bayer. “Access to an entirely new herbicide class that complements the existing toolbox not only helps farmers combat and prevent weed resistance, but it also helps farmers adopt and maintain no-till and reduced tillage practices that improve soil health, which is a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture.”
Icafolin-methyl is expected to help by offering a new mechanism for weed control that complements existing herbicides, including glyphosate. Bayer says this will make it easier for growers to rotate and mix herbicides, slowing down resistance development.
In test applications, icafolin-treated weeds stop competing with crops for water and sunlight but remain physically in place, acting as a mulch that helps retain soil moisture and prevent erosion.
When Could Icafolin Be Available?
With an estimated peak sales potential of around 750 million euros, Bayer expects icafolin will be launched from 2028 onward with initial availability in Brazil. The new operating model DSO has been instrumental for advancing icafolin regulatory submissions ahead of schedule, according to the release.
It would be available in the U.S., Canada and other markets in the following years, pending approval.
The product is being developed for a wide range of crops including soybeans, cereals, pulses, oilseed crops, pome and stone fruits, tree nuts, grapes and citrus.
As a novel mode of action, it has unique properties and benefits, Bayer says. Treated weeds become “frozen” in the fields, meaning they stop competing with crops for water, nutrients and sunlight, but the dead weeds remain in the field longer because they largely maintain their structure. This creates a mulch layer that helps prevent erosion and traps moisture in the soil. By providing effective weed control, it reduces the need for tillage, supporting regenerative practices in agriculture that can improve soil health.
For farmers, the news of Bayer’s regulatory submissions marks the beginning of a multi-year approval process but also signals the arrival of long-awaited new weed control options. With herbicide resistance growing, icafolin-methyl could become an important addition to integrated weed management strategies in the next decade.
