New seed treatment awaits approval

DECATUR, Ill. — A new soybean seed treatment aimed at protecting the crop from its top nemeses waits registration.

Syngenta’s new TYMIRIUM technology, marketed as Victrato, is undergoing regulatory review at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“TYMIRIUM is a new molecule we’re bringing to both soybeans and cotton for the 2026 planting season. We’re waiting on registration. It should be this fall,” said Katie Jaeger, Syngenta product marketing lead for U.S. soybean seed care portfolio.

“The main three targets that we’re going after are nematodes, sudden death syndrome and an emerging disease, red crown rot.”

Jaeger gave further details of Syngenta’s new seed treatment product during the Farm Progress Show.

Overall, what are the advantages of using Victrato?

Jaeger: It provides enhanced protection where it matters most. If you think about the top five issues based on the Crop Production Network, No. 1 is soybean cyst nematode with over $1.2 billion in revenue loss annually.

We’ve got to address that. We need additional solutions to address that. We’re happy to bring new technology to address that exact issue.

The No. 2 issue is sudden death syndrome. So, again, even with more treatment going out and more awareness of the disease, given the environmental conditions, we’re still seeing it pretty prevalent in certain areas of the U.S where we need better protection because what we currently have on the market today isn’t what is expected or needed from the customer base.

Third is with red crown rot and recent developments with its spread throughout the Midwest. Ohio was recently added as were two additional Missouri counties. With growing awareness of the disease, there’s a growing need to address it.

Soybeans are being planted earlier each year. What are the benefits of this seed treatment in terms of the trend toward earlier planting?

Jaeger: The early stages are the most vulnerable time. And with the planting date, pushing closer and closer to the beginning of April as the average, the beans are more susceptible, especially with all the wet weather that we’ve seen over the last three years. That’s why you need a comprehensive package.

So, even with the launch of the new technology I would recommend to pair it with a base fungicide and insecticide like CruiserMaxx APX to protect against some of those first early-season diseases like pythium, for example, that is most prevalent in those wetter conditions.

We’ve had a lot of heat this summer, and even with the rain, we’re seeing more phytophthora than we have in the last two years prior.

So again, with a comprehensive package, you don’t have to worry over which disease comes. You’re protected across the board.

What kind of residual protection does Victrato have?

Jaeger: Our focus with seed treatment is going to be the first four weeks. This is consistent with the other seed treatments that we’ve provided.

The difference with the new technology is the level of efficacy that we’re getting over that 30-day span. So, really, the increased potency of the molecule itself is why you’re seeing a difference in performance out in the field.

Resistance is going to develop, which make it all the more important to develop new products, right?

Jaeger: I would recommend that you use the seed treatment, especially when we think about an issue like nematodes. It’s got to be part of an integrated solution to help combat that resistance.

So, any opportunity to rotate, any opportunity to select for certain varieties, and then also pair it with the seed treatment when available.

How does Syngenta continue to invest in its research pipeline to stay ahead of any crop production problems farmers may face?

Jaeger: If if you look over the last 15 years, this is the fourth iteration of a nematode treatment. We started with Avicta. Then we had Clariva.

We launched Saltro five years ago, and then Victrato will be the latest innovation. Continuing along that line, we have additional products going forward to continue to invest into the industry.

They’re not just seed treatments, but I think there are over 16 products that are in the pipeline to bring to the market as a whole from the company. So, we see a huge driver to continue to invest in innovation going forward.