Corteva announces nature-inspired pest control solutions to help farmers effectively protect yield

Ag science company Corteva announced two new crop protection solutions—one of natural origin and the other naturally-inspired- to combat these destructive pests. 

"Innovation is at the core of our crop protection business and today's announcement further advances our global leadership," said Robert King, executive vice president, crop protection for Corteva.

These new insect management solutions, the executive said, complement the company's portfolio of biological and insecticide products. These, he continued, will help farmers better manage costly insect damage while supporting Corteva's vision of providing more sustainable solutions, improving farmer productivity, and strengthening global food security.

Globally, thousands of insect species threaten crop yields by feeding on plants, transmitting diseases, and damaging plant tissues, resulting in significant losses—estimated at 20 percent to 40 percent for crops such as wheat, corn, and rice, at a cost of approximately $70 billion.

Goltrevo, Corteva's latest in pest control

The Goltrevo bioinsecticide is a broad-spectrum, microbial-based solution designed to combat sap-feeding and chewing insects, including whiteflies, aphids, and the devastating corn leafhopper, which spreads the bacterial pathogen responsible for corn stunt disease and can cause yield losses of up to 70 percent. Goltrevo is the first bioinsecticide in Corteva's Biologicals portfolio. 

The product is a best-in-class formulation based on a novel strain of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana 203, originally isolated from palm weevil beetles.

This novel bioinsecticide will target some sap-feeding insects, such as corn leafhoppers, whiteflies, aphids, and stinkbugs, as well as chewing insects, including several species of root-feeding worms, beetles, and destructive caterpillars.

With Goltrevo, growers can expect a longer shelf life and a lower potential for the development of resistance, ensuring stability and usability across various farming practices and crops, including corn, soybeans, sugarcane, pastures, fruits, and vegetables.

Commercial sales are expected to commence as early as 2027 in Latin America, pending receipt of applicable regulatory approvals. 

Varpelgo, nature-inspired

The Varpelgo™ active is a next-generation insecticide developed by closely studying the structure and function of the naturally occurring Qalcova™ active, utilizing nature as inspiration to design a novel solution for controlling chewing pests in fruits and vegetables, row crops, and rice.

Varpelgo active provides highly effective control of chewing insects, including diamondback moths, armyworms, loopers, and several species of borers, beetles, weevils, and thrips, in key crops such as soybeans, corn, rice, tree nuts, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, across all global regions. 

It also offers a new seed-applied technology solution to protect seeds and seedlings from wireworm.

With a favorable ecological profile and low use rates, Varpelgo will fit within farmers' integrated pest management and insect resistance management programs, providing them with a new rotational option for chewing insect control.

The first commercial sales are expected in Asia Pacific and Latin America in the early 2030s, pending completion of field trials and applicable regulatory reviews. 

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