FMC announces line of pheromones

FMC announced a new tool for biological pest management: pheromones. This week, the company submitted the technology to Brazilian regulatory bodies, and the new products are expected to be launched in 2025. 

According to a Sergio Catalano (in the photo), insecticide manager at FMC, this is a new generation of products and the first line of pheromones from FMC aimed at the management of spodoptera, the main pest in large-scale crops, such as soybeans, corn and cotton. “The first tests with the solution demonstrated extremely positive results in productivity and control. Among the benefits of this new technology are the reduction in the insect population, resistance management, increased production quality and the absence of waste as it is a biological product”, he highlights.

He explains that pheromones are the chemical form of communication between insects, including for mating. “With biologically produced pheromones and spraying in the field, the male does not find the female for mating, this reduces the generation of new pests, which attack the plantations and cause great damage to the producer”, he adds. 

Increasing the efficiency of agricultural practices

As another tool for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), pheromone technology is important to increase the efficiency of agricultural practices in the field. “The use of chemical and biological pesticides is essential in any crop. Now, the pheromones will carry out behavioral management, that is, the product will act on the behavior of insects and their reproductive cycle, reducing the population in the crop and, thus, optimizing other forms of control”, highlights Fábio Silva, research manager at FMC for Latin America.

He reinforces that, on a daily basis, the results of pheromone applications help the operationalization of rural properties. “By breaking the pest cycle and reducing the number of new generations, we make management easier. Furthermore, the farmer will be able to use this product in the spray tank like any other agricultural pesticide and with the possibility of mixing”, he states.

Research development

The pheromone line technology was studied by different researchers and by the FMC team in Brazil. The technology was chosen to deliver to the local farmer a product that combats spodoptera with its national characteristics and also its climate and soil. “We selected the best formulation to provide Brazilian producers with a sustainable, innovative and, at the same time, economically accessible solution”, says the manager.