Strategic licensing agreement expands access to FMC’s breakthrough rimisoxafen technology, strengthening the fight against herbicide-resistant weeds in corn and soybean production
In a significant development for the global crop protection industry, FMC Corporation and Corteva Agriscience have entered into a long-term strategic supply and licensing partnership aimed at broadening farmer access to one of the most promising herbicide innovations introduced in recent decades. The agreement will enable the commercialization of FMC’s proprietary rimisoxafen technology across major corn and soybean markets in North and South America, offering growers a powerful new weapon against increasingly resilient weed populations.
The collaboration comes at a time when herbicide resistance has emerged as one of agriculture’s most pressing productivity challenges. Resistant broadleaf weeds, particularly species within the Amaranthus family such as palmer amaranth and waterhemp, continue to erode crop yields and increase production costs across key grain-producing regions. The partnership seeks to address this challenge by accelerating the deployment of rimisoxafen-based solutions, which have been recognized for their novel dual mode of action and enhanced resistance-management potential.
Under the agreement, FMC will retain full ownership of the rimisoxafen molecule and serve as the exclusive supplier of the active ingredient to Corteva. Both companies will independently develop and commercialize proprietary premix formulations tailored to corn and soybean production systems throughout the Americas. The arrangement extends into the next decade and reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to advanced weed management technologies while supporting long-term agricultural productivity.
As part of the transaction, Corteva will make an initial pre-purchase commitment valued at approximately $200 million, securing future product supply from FMC. The investment underscores growing industry confidence in rimisoxafen’s commercial potential and its role in addressing resistance pressures that continue to intensify across global cropping systems.
Industry experts regard rimisoxafen as a notable breakthrough in herbicide innovation. Recently classified by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) as the industry's first dual mode of action herbicide, the molecule introduces a substantially higher barrier to resistance development compared with conventional single-mode alternatives. Its unique profile is expected to provide growers with more durable and sustainable weed-control options, particularly in production systems where existing herbicide chemistries are losing effectiveness.
The partnership also aligns with broader industry efforts to diversify weed-management strategies as regulatory scrutiny, resistance evolution, and sustainability expectations reshape crop protection markets worldwide. By combining FMC’s innovation capabilities with Corteva’s extensive market reach, the companies aim to accelerate adoption of next-generation weed-control solutions while helping growers safeguard yields and profitability.
While the initial focus remains on corn and soybean production across the Americas, FMC will continue advancing rimisoxafen-based technologies for additional crops and geographies, reflecting the company's broader ambition to establish the molecule as a cornerstone of its future crop protection portfolio.
Subject to regulatory approvals, commercial introductions of rimisoxafen-based products are expected before the end of the decade, marking what could become one of the most consequential herbicide launches of the next generation. As resistance pressures continue to escalate globally, the alliance signals a growing recognition that innovation, collaboration, and diversified modes of action will be essential to sustaining agricultural productivity in the years ahead.
