Bayer CropScience has received the registration for its new insecticide Sivanto™ from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Sivanto™, which was developed to control devastating sucking pests on fruits and vegetables as well as most broadacre crops, will be available for the 2015 growing season. Further registrations for Sivanto™ prime are expected in spring 2015 in Canada and Mexico, in fall 2015 in Australia and from 2016 onwards in European countries.

“Growers are facing an increasing domestic demand from retailers and shoppers for sustainably produced fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Georg Raupach, Global Product Manager Insecticides at Bayer CropScience. “We want to help growers, retailers and the entire marketplace to meet their needs. Sivanto™ was designed specifically with the horticulture industry in mind and will help improve both the yield and quality of the produce.”

Sivanto™ is a novel systemic insecticide for the control of major sucking pests such as aphids, whiteflies, hoppers, psyllids, and other key insects, and acts effectively on all mobile stages including larvae and adults. It can be used on pome fruits, citrus, potatoes, tomatoes, melons and cotton. Sivanto™ is based on the active ingredient flupyradifurone which belongs to the new chemical class of butenolides.

Field studies demonstrate high safety for beneficial insects 

Extensive field studies have demonstrated that Sivanto™ meets a high safety standard. When applied at proposed label rates, Sivanto presents no effects on honey bee colony development. Due to its selectivity to most beneficials in fruit and vegetable crops, Sivanto™ can be used in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs together with biologicals and beneficials.

“Bayer CropScience is investing heavily in research and development to bring new solutions like Sivanto™, which provides a wide range of benefits to growers, to market,” Dr. Hans-Werner Rauen, Global Regulatory Affairs Manager Insecticides at Bayer CropScience pointed out. “We are very proud that, due to its favorable human health and ecotoxicological profile, Sivanto™ has received the Reduced Risk designation by the U.S. EPA.” The status is granted for compounds (active ingredients) that show a significant advantage over products already in the market and that show a favourable toxicological and ecotoxicological profile.

The fast activity of Sivanto™ leads to quick feeding cessation, providing effective control of the insects that act as virus vectors. It allows high flexibility as it can be applied as a foliar spray, drench or drip irrigation via the soil, and can also be used for seed treatment. 

Sivanto™ also offers great flexibility in regard to timing as it can even be applied during flowering, ensuring crop safety at all growth stages. The distinct chemical structure of Sivanto™ is responsible for its sub-classification in the IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) mode of action scheme and makes it active against selected neonicotinoid-resistant pest populations.