BASF’s Alite 27 herbicide receives EPA registration

The first and only HPPD available for use in soybeans on the LibertyLink GT27 acre in select counties

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, March 31, 2020 – BASF has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration of Alite™ 27 herbicide for use in select counties across Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota and Tennessee. Alite 27 herbicide is the first and only group 27 herbicide (4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, HPPD) available for use in soybeans as part of the LibertyLink^® GT27™ soybean trait system.

Research by Stratus Ag shows that nearly 75 percent of growers nationwide are dealing with glyphosate-resistant weeds in their fields, and of those growers, 58 percent are experiencing resistance to other modes of action. With Alite 27 herbicide, growers will now have a new mode of action for soybeans and another tool to fight weeds in their fields when planting LibertyLink GT27 soybeans.

“Today’s management practices of relying on a single mode of action are not sustainable for long-term control of problem weeds,” said Scott Kay, Vice President of U.S. Crop, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “BASF continues to bring new innovations, like Alite 27 herbicide, to market to give growers more operational control over their crops and to help eliminate troublesome weeds in their fields.”

Compared with traditional preemergent programs, Alite 27 herbicide will offer unique benefits for the grower as part of the LibertyLink GT27 soybean system:

• Recharge: Alite 27 herbicide provides outstanding residual control of early-season grasses and broadleaf weeds and can reactivate and take down weeds, even after they have emerged. When insufficient rainfall occurs, many residual herbicides are not fully activated and weeds can break through. By having this unique characteristic, Alite 27 herbicide is reactivated when as little as half an inch of rainfall occurs.
• Reliable Residual: Alite 27 herbicide provides more consistent, safe, broad-spectrum control of broadleaves and grasses when used as a tank-mix partner with other residual herbicides. Based on company field trials across multiple geographies, the herbicide provides residual control up to two weeks longer on tough large- and small-seeded broadleaves, including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, marestail, and kochia.
• Resistance Management: Alite 27 herbicide provides a new tank-mix partner to enhance resistance management programs and can be used with other preemergent programs due to its low use rate (1.5–3 ounces per acre) and tank compatibility.

“One of the biggest challenges growers face is resistant weeds, and the soybean market needed a new residual active ingredient to help fight against them,” said Darren Unland, Technical Marketing Manager, BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Alite 27 herbicide will provide growers with another preemergent herbicide option to layer into their herbicide program for effective, season-long control.”

For the 2021 growing season, growers in registered counties will be able to apply Alite 27 herbicide. To learn more, talk with your local BASF representative.

Alite 27 Herbicide is a U.S. EPA Restricted Use Pesticide.

_{Always read and follow label directions.}

_{LibertyLink is a registered trademark and Alite is a trademark of BASF. GT27 is a trademark of MS Technologies, LLC. © 2020 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.}

About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division

With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline and broad portfolio, including seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real world ideas that work – for farmers, society and the planet. In 2019, our division generated sales of €7.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,800 employees in North America and had sales of $18.4 billion in 2019. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.