A new broadacre herbicide, the first of its kind in three decades, is poised to enter the Australian market in 2028, offering a potential breakthrough in combatting herbicide-resistant weeds that pose a significant challenge to the country’s farm production. Developed by German multinational Bayer, the product, named Icafolin, is being positioned as a safer alternative to glyphosate-based chemicals like Roundup, against which many weeds have developed resistance.

Herbicide resistance is a growing problem for Australian farmers, particularly in grain and cotton sectors, costing an estimated A$4 billion annually. Weeds such as annual ryegrass and wild radish have shown resistance to multiple chemical groups, limiting the effectiveness of existing weed control methods. Bayer officials describe Icafolin as a “resistance-breaking” product with a novel mode of action. Unlike traditional herbicides that cause weeds to brown and die, Icafolin reportedly halts weed growth by “freezing” their leaves and roots before disrupting their vascular systems, cutting off water uptake and growth.

Brian Naber, head of Bayer’s Asia Pacific crop science division, noted the significance of this innovation given the absence of new post-emergent herbicides in the past 30 years. Bayer anticipates that Icafolin could be applied across millions of hectares in Australia, with the potential to become the company’s largest crop protection product in the region. The company is also developing Icafolin-resistant cotton varieties, enabling the chemical’s use not only for pre-cropping weed control but also to inhibit weed regrowth during early crop development.

Australian farmers have welcomed the prospect of a new herbicide tool. Rhys Turton, chair of GrainGrowers and a farmer in Western Australia, highlighted the ongoing challenge weeds present by evolving resistance to multiple herbicide groups, including glyphosate. He expressed cautious optimism that, pending regulatory approval, Icafolin could provide much-needed relief to growers facing resistant weed populations.

Bayer has submitted Icafolin for evaluation by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which assesses the safety and efficacy of pesticides before approval. While farming groups generally express confidence in the APVMA’s regulatory processes, some environmental and public health advocates have raised concerns about the agency’s capacity and independence. Critics argue that the APVMA’s funding model—largely supported by industry fees—may create conflicts of interest, potentially compromising the thoroughness of assessments, especially for new chemical products that could impact ecosystems, drinking water, and rural communities.

Josh Davis, executive director of Pesticide Action Australia, called for independent and transparent testing to ensure long-term safety, emphasizing that Australia has become an early adopter of new pesticides without sufficient independent evaluation. In response, an APVMA spokesperson refuted claims of regulatory weakness or undue industry influence, stressing that the agency bases decisions on scientific evidence and operates under a government cost-recovery framework requiring industry-funded assessments.

Bayer representatives maintain that rigorous scientific data underpin Icafolin’s safety profile. Rachel Rama, the company’s crop protection research lead, explained the herbicide’s unique mechanism and expressed confidence in its environmental and human safety standards. Mike Graham, head of crop science R&D, cited trial results from Brazil demonstrating up to a 25 percent increase in crop yields following treatment of herbicide-resistant weeds.

With global investment in research and development totaling $9.4 billion, Bayer continues efforts not only to launch Icafolin but also to integrate it into future crop management systems. Australian farmers and industry stakeholders alike await the APVMA’s decision, which will determine how soon this new herbicide can be deployed in the ongoing fight against resistant weeds.