EPA Proposal Advances Cyclobutrifluram Approval Market Expected to Exceed 1 Billion Dollars

On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its intention to approve the registration of cyclobutrifluram, a new active ingredient designed for nematode control in crops like lettuce, cotton, soybeans, and ornamental plants. Public comments on the decision are now being solicited.

Unlike conventional nematicides applied before planting, cyclobutrifluram can be used after pest monitoring, offering growers a more precision-based pest management tool to enhance crop yields. Developed by Syngenta in 2013, this SDHI-class fungicide/nematicide (trade name: Tymirium®) has shown remarkable efficacy against diseases like Fusarium crown rot in wheat, Bakanae disease in rice, and gray mold in tomatoes.

Syngenta has obtained patents for cyclobutrifluram in major markets, including China, the U.S., Brazil, and Europe, valid until 2033. In 2022, the product was launched in Argentina under the brands Victrato® and Vaniva®, with applications expanding globally. By 2023, it was registered in China for controlling tomato root-knot nematodes, followed by approvals in 2024 for wheat, ginger, and cucumber diseases.

The product’s first commercial formulation in China, Kelaiao®, has been a game-changer, reducing nematicide usage to 10% of traditional products, while significantly lowering soil and environmental impacts. With annual peak sales projected to surpass $1 billion, cyclobutrifluram is poised to become a blockbuster SDHI product globally.