Bayer Files Icafolin Herbicide in Four Major Markets Sales Forecast to Hit 750 Million Euros

Bayer has officially submitted its new herbicide, Icafolin-methyl, for registration in the EU, completing filings in Brazil, the US, and Canada—covering all four key markets. As the first product developed using Bayer’s groundbreaking CropKey technology, Icafolin is hailed as the first post-emergence herbicide with a novel mode of action for broad-acre crops in over 30 years.

Peak annual sales for Icafolin are projected to reach €750 million ($858 million), with Brazil set for a 2028 launch. Its innovative chemistry allows for lower application rates and highly targeted spraying, offering top-tier safety and sustainability. Bayer’s registration leverages these advantages to classify Icafolin in a lower risk category.

Icafolin’s application spans soybeans, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, pome and stone fruits, nuts, grapes, and citrus. Treated weeds enter a “frozen” state—ceasing competition with crops for light, water, and nutrients while remaining on the field as a protective mulch, promoting soil moisture retention and erosion control. This reduces the need for tillage, supporting regenerative agriculture practices.

Bayer’s R&D head emphasized that resistant weeds threaten both food security and farmer incomes. A new herbicide class will diversify weed control tools, help manage resistance, and support conservation tillage, paving the way for healthier soils and sustainable farming.

After its Brazilian debut in 2028, Icafolin will gradually roll out to the US, Canada, the EU, and other markets.