In a development that underscores the growing emphasis on precision weed management in oilseed crops, Corteva Agriscience has obtained regulatory approval in China for its herbicide formulation combining picloram and halauxifen-methyl, expanding the application scope of the company’s proprietary active ingredient into winter rapeseed cultivation.
The newly approved product, formulated as picloram + halauxifen-methyl 58 g/L EC (containing picloram 48 g/L and halauxifen-methyl 10 g/L), is designed to control annual broadleaf weeds in winter rapeseed fields. The approval marks the first time that halauxifen-methyl has been registered in China for use in winter rapeseed, extending its reach beyond previously authorized applications in wheat, winter wheat and non-crop areas.
The registration strengthens Corteva’s position in China’s crop protection market at a time when growers are increasingly seeking herbicide solutions that combine efficacy with environmental stewardship.
Halauxifen-methyl belongs to the arylpicolinate class of herbicides and was originally developed by Dow AgroSciences, now part of Corteva Agriscience. Since its commercial introduction, the active ingredient has gained recognition globally for its ability to manage difficult broadleaf weeds at low use rates while maintaining a favorable environmental profile.
The herbicide functions by mimicking naturally occurring plant growth hormones known as auxins. By interacting with auxin receptors, including TIR1 and AFB5, it disrupts normal hormonal signaling pathways in susceptible weeds. The resulting physiological imbalance triggers uncontrolled growth, abnormal cell division and vascular dysfunction, ultimately causing plant death.
From an intellectual property perspective, halauxifen-methyl remains under patent protection. The original compound patents were filed by Dow AgroSciences in 2007 across multiple jurisdictions, including international PCT filings as well as patents in Europe, the United States and China. These protections are scheduled to expire in January 2027.
Until then, Corteva retains exclusive rights in China to the technical-grade active ingredient, reinforcing its competitive advantage in one of the world’s largest crop protection markets.
Industry observers view the latest registration as part of a broader trend toward introducing next-generation herbicide technologies into high-value cropping systems, particularly as farmers contend with evolving weed pressures, resistance management challenges and increasingly stringent environmental standards.
