Bayer Seeks EU Approval for Icafolin‑Methyl, Agriculture’s First New Herbicide Mode in 30 Years

Bayer Seeks EU Approval for Icafolin‑Methyl, Agriculture’s First New Herbicide Mode in 30 Years

(IN BRIEF) Bayer has filed for EU approval of icafolin‑methyl, its first new herbicide mode of action in over 30 years, after earlier submissions in Brazil, the U.S., and Canada. With peak sales estimated at €750 million, icafolin‑methyl is slated for an initial 2028 launch in Brazil, thanks to Bayer’s DSO model. The product’s novel chemical class allows lower dose rates, precise application, and an exceptional safety profile, complementing glyphosate to combat escalating global weed resistance. Designed for a wide range of crops—from soybeans to fruit trees—it arrests weed growth while leaving plant material intact to form a moisture‑retaining mulch that supports regenerative no‑till farming. Developed via Bayer’s AI‑driven CropKey platform, icafolin‑methyl underscores a new era of proactively engineered crop‑protection solutions. Following its Brazilian introduction, Bayer will roll out the herbicide in North America, the EU, and beyond.

(PRESS RELEASE) MONHEIM AM RHEIN, 31-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Bayer has taken a major step forward in its crop‑science pipeline by submitting registration applications for its innovative herbicide icafolin‑methyl across four key markets. Following earlier filings in Brazil, the United States, and Canada, the company has now sought approval in the European Union, marking the first regulatory milestone for this product. Icafolin‑methyl represents agriculture’s first truly novel post‑emergent weed‑control mode of action in more than three decades, with projected peak sales of roughly €750 million. Bayer anticipates an initial commercial rollout in Brazil from 2028 onward, a timeline accelerated by its new DSO operating model.

Belonging to a completely new chemical class, icafolin‑methyl delivers distinctive advantages: it requires lower application rates, enables pinpoint targeting, and boasts an outstanding safety and environmental profile. It complements established herbicides such as glyphosate, offering growers an essential tool against the escalating threat of weed resistance—which undermines yields and jeopardizes food security by competing for light and nutrients.

“Weeds pose a direct threat to food security and to the livelihoods of farmers,” said Mike Graham, Head of R&D for Bayer’s Crop Science division. “Icafolin‑methyl not only expands the herbicide toolbox but also supports no‑till and reduced‑tillage systems that enhance soil health, a vital component of regenerative agriculture.”

Bayer has tailored icafolin‑methyl for diverse crops, including soybean, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, pome and stone fruits, tree nuts, grapes, and citrus. Treated weeds become immobilized in the field—halting their growth and competition while remaining structurally intact to form a natural mulch that curbs erosion and conserves moisture. By reducing reliance on mechanical tillage, this approach further underpins sustainable farming practices.

Thanks to its targeted action and low‑dose efficacy, icafolin‑methyl qualified for registration under reduced‑risk criteria. It is also the inaugural product developed through CropKey—Bayer’s groundbreaking R&D framework that leverages artificial intelligence to optimize efficacy, safety, sustainability, and user convenience from the earliest design stages. CropKey is set to fast‑track future discovery of crop‑protection agents tailored to specific proteins in weeds, pests, and pathogens.

“By harnessing AI within CropKey, we’re shifting from reactive screening to proactive design,” said Rachel Rama, Senior Vice President and Head of Small Molecules for Bayer’s Crop Science division. “This accelerates our ability to deliver highly effective, eco‑responsible solutions to farmers.”

Following the anticipated launch in Brazil from 2028, Bayer plans to extend icafolin‑methyl availability to the U.S., Canada, the EU, and additional markets.

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Media Contact:
Benjamin Eberle, phone +1 314 2586187
Email: benjamin.eberle@bayer.com

Contact for investor inquiries:
Bayer Investor Relations Team, phone +49 214 30-72704
Email: ir@bayer.com
www.bayer.com/en/investors/ir-team

SOURCE: Bayer