Sumitomo Chemical has launched Velera, a fungicide containing its active ingredient Pavecto (common name: metyltetraprole), in Paraguay, marking the first commercial introduction of the technology outside Japan and expanding the company's push into international crop protection markets.
Announced on October 15, 2026, the launch brings the new fungicide to Paraguay's soybean sector, where growers face a range of foliar diseases that can threaten crop health and yield potential. The product has been registered for use on soybeans and is designed to control major diseases, including target spot, Cercospora leaf blight, purple seed stain and Septoria brown spot.
The launch is a milestone in Sumitomo Chemical's international commercialisation strategy for Pavecto, which has been available in Japan since 2023. Regulatory reviews for the active ingredient and products containing it are under way in major markets, including Brazil and Europe, as well as other countries.
Targeting fungicide resistance
Pavecto's principal differentiator is its reported activity against pathogens resistant to existing quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. Based on internal and external evaluations, Sumitomo Chemical says the active ingredient could provide growers with an additional option for managing fungicide resistance.
The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) has positioned metyltetraprole in Subgroup 11A, a newly established subgroup within Group 11, which includes QoI fungicides. This classification distinguishes the active ingredient within the broader group and could be relevant to resistance-management strategies.
Fungicide resistance remains a significant challenge for crop protection, particularly where repeated use of products with similar modes of action places selection pressure on pathogen populations. The introduction of active ingredients with differentiated activity can expand disease-management options, although their long-term effectiveness will depend on appropriate use and resistance-management practices.
Soybean disease control at the centre of launch
Velera is intended to protect soybean crops against several diseases that can affect foliage, seed quality and yield performance. Its registered uses in Paraguay include target spot and late-season diseases such as Cercospora leaf blight, purple seed stain and Septoria brown spot.
These diseases can create management challenges as crop development progresses, making effective disease control an important component of soybean production. Sumitomo Chemical expects the product to offer growers another tool for protecting crop health and supporting yields. Actual performance will depend on disease pressure, application timing, local agronomic conditions and compliance with product-label directions.
Registration pipeline extends beyond Paraguay
Pavecto was developed as part of Sumitomo Chemical's B2020 pipeline of products intended for registration in major markets. The company had identified the active ingredient as a potential growth driver for its agricultural business.
With the Paraguay launch, Sumitomo Chemical is beginning to extend commercial availability beyond Japan while pursuing regulatory approvals elsewhere. Brazil is a particularly relevant market to watch given the scale of its soybean industry, although commercialisation will depend on the outcome and timing of the regulatory review process. The company's next challenge will be to translate the initial market entry into broader international adoption while establishing the product's role in local disease-management programmes.
