BASF and Corteva have entered into a long-term collaboration to develop new soybean weed control solutions. Both companies have agreed to cross-license soybean traits, allowing for the creation of new soybean trait stacks, while also developing complementary herbicide technologies. Through the collaboration, Corteva will develop a new soybean trait stack by combining a BASF proprietary PPO tolerance trait with the company's own 2,4-D tolerance trait, as well as glyphosate and glufosinate tolerance traits. The combination of these traits will allow tolerance to BASF’s Liberty (glufosinate-ammonium), Corteva's Enlist One and Enlist Duo (2,4-D) herbicides, BASF's PPO inhibiting herbicides Kixor (saflufenacil) and Tirexor (trifludimoxazin) and various glyphosate products. North American introduction for this stack is currently expected in the early 2030s through Corteva's seed brands, with other geographies expected to follow.

The two companies also have longer term agreements in place where BASF is to develop a trait stack providing tolerance to five herbicidal modes of action. This stack will incorporate 2,4-D tolerance incensed from Corteva, glyphosate and glufosinate tolerance, BASF's own PPO tolerance trait, and tolerance to a new mode of action herbicide. BASF's soybean stack is currently expected to be commercialised in the 2040s.

In addition, the agreement allows both companies the opportunity to recommend each other’s herbicide solutions to growers.

This collaboration follows a recently announced trait licensing agreement between BASF, Corteva, and MS Technologies (see AgbioNews Jun 29, 2022).