Syngenta taking applications for 2013 SBI

For the fifth year, Syngenta is inviting golf course superintendents across the United States to apply to attend the Syngenta Business Institute, an innovative professional business development program. Syngenta developed the program specifically for superintendents, in conjunction with Wake Forest University Schools of Business.

Syngenta acquires DuPont's insecticide business

Wow, a lot of news lately. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Stan Zontek, who passed away recently. More on that soon.

In the meantime, this Syngenta-DuPont deal just was announced. We have press releases from both Syngenta and DuPont. 

Here's the press release from Syngenta:

Syngenta announced today that it will acquire the DuPont Professional Products insecticide business, including a number of registered trademark brands. Created in 2002, the DuPont Professional Products insecticide business specializes in the development and marketing of innovative branded products for the professional turf and pest control markets, including Altriset, Advion Arilon and Acelepryn. The acquisition price is $125 million.

Syngenta's Bell Announces Retirement

One of my great friends in the industry, and, in fact, a great friend of the industry, Syngenta's Margaret Bell has announced she will retire, her last day set for May 4th.

Margaret began working in the industry -- working in the green, pest control and ag industries at various times -- in the late 1970s. Since 2001, she has worked in marketing communications in Syngenta's Lawn & Garden group.

Margaret has worked closely with the trade media, helping us cover the industry and answering our many questions. She has also been active in the various associations -- GCSAA, TOCA, PLANET, Project EverGreen, among others.

Margaret has always been a fun person to work with. For example, she's constantly giving me a hard time on how my hair looks exactly the same (short) every time she sees me. She tries to convince people I travel with my barber. (She's not far off -- I am somewhat OCD about visiting the barber.) The joke is especially biting around some of my colleagues who are more, uhh, let's say folically challenged.

Syngenta obtains Econem in Pasteuria Bioscience agreement

Syngenta Lawn & Garden announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Pasteuria Bioscience Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company. Under the terms of the agreement, Syngenta’s Turf & Landscape division will have exclusive licensing and distribution rights in global turf markets to Pasteuria Biosciences existing and future nematicide product lines based on the naturally occurring biological agent Pasteuria.

As a result of the agreement, Syngenta will obtain Econem for the Lawn & Garden Turf portfolio, Pasteuria Bioscience’s first commercialized product containing Pasteuria microbes. Launched in 2010, Econem has been proven to control sting nematodes, one of the most widespread and destructive types. A liquid version has recently gained EPA registration, and a combination offer, to control in addition lance nematodes, is in late stage development. Sting and lance nematodes are two examples of prevalent nematode pests in the U.S. market affecting golf courses and sports fields.

Syngenta takes action with new fungicide

It was an exciting morning for Syngenta as the company announced a major shake up in their product line, as well as the first of their new products, to turf media.

Bob Goglia, brand manager for Syngenta, announced that the company will be unveiling seven new products in the next 12 to 18 months. The first product would be an old product with a new twist -- Daconil Action.

Daconil Action combines the active ingredient in Daconil fungicide with acibenzolar-S-methyl, a turf protein booster. The company says the new Daconil Action will offer superintendents enhanced disease control and improved turf quality.

"Daconil has been a foundation for turf disease control for 30 years," Goglia said. "Daconil Action combines with a turf protection booster, helping the plant stay healthy and defend itself naturally."

Acibenzolar-S-methyl (also known as acibenzolar) belongs to a product category called Host Plant Defense Induction, established by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC), in Group P. Once absorbed, acibenzolar stimulates the natural defense response or the Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) of the turfgrass by activating the production of PR proteins.

"The product is a true plant health enhancer," Goglia stated. "It is recognized as a turf health product by the scientific community."

"The acibenzolar -- combined with Daconil fungicide's direct activity on disease pathogens -- is what gives Daconil Action its boosted performance," said Mike Agnew, technical manager, Syngenta. "Acibenzolar bridges the gap between genetic resistance and conventional disease control. Its SAR effect works with Daconil to reduce disease infection."

Features and benefits of Daconil Action include:

• Only turf health product in the U.S. recognized by FRAC as having an active ingredient that produces an SAR effect
• Multi-site mode of action to attack pathogens at several biochemical sites, preventing disease resistance
• Effectively controls diseases such as dollar spot, anthracnose, brown patch, gray leaf spot, stem rust, yellow patch as well as others and suppresses Pythium blight and bacterial wilt
• Protein-boost effect improves ability to handle drought, increases phytosynthetic capacity, reduces incidence of dollar spot and other disease, and enhances root growth and development
• Built-in surfactant system provides residual control of 14-21 days when used at recommended rates
• Labeled for control on golf courses, sod farms, professional and collegiate athletic fields and lawns around commercial buildings
  

The product will be available Oct. 1st, 2011, Goglia said. The product is already registered in 40 states, with more on the way.

Goglia then detailed the roll-out plan for Syngenta in the next 18 months. He said there would be one or two new products announced at the Golf Industry Show in Las Vegas (late February 2012); another one or two products in mid- to late-summer 2012; and one or two more new products in late 2012/early 2013.

"You'll be seeing a lot more products based on turf health and turf safety," he said.