New fungicide aims to simplify application decisions with targeted white mold activity and extended residual protection
BASF is expanding its crop protection portfolio with the introduction of Zarina, a new fungicide designed to target white mold while also delivering broader disease control across key crops.
Brady Spagenberg, Marketing Director for Crop Protection at BASF, outlined to Farms.com, how Zarina is positioned to support growers facing increasingly complex disease pressures.
Zarina is being developed for use in northern soybean production, as well as canola and dry beans, with a primary focus on managing white mold—one of the more challenging and unpredictable diseases in these crops.
White mold can be difficult to plan around, as its development often depends heavily on environmental conditions during the growing season.
According to BASF, one of the key considerations behind Zarina’s development is reducing the need for growers to make a trade-off between targeted and broad-spectrum protection.
Traditionally, fungicide decisions may require choosing between a product specifically aimed at white mold or one that addresses a wider range of diseases.
Zarina is positioned to offer both targeted white mold control and broader-spectrum residual disease protection, allowing it to fit more flexibly into fungicide programs.
This dual-purpose approach is intended to simplify application decisions, particularly in seasons where disease pressure is uncertain.
By combining white mold activity with extended residual control, the product can be applied as part of a preventative strategy without relying on precise disease forecasting.
Zarina also reflects BASF’s broader approach to product development, which emphasizes ongoing investment in research and innovation.
The company notes that a portion of its revenue is consistently reinvested into R&D to develop new solutions aimed at addressing agronomic challenges such as disease pressure and environmental stress.
In addition to product development, BASF continues to promote on-farm testing through initiatives like the Real Results Yield Challenge, where growers can evaluate fungicide performance under their own conditions.
Programs like this are intended to help farmers and retailers better understand how fungicide applications can impact yield and crop health, particularly in seasons where disease or environmental stress plays a significant role.
Overall, Zarina is positioned as a fungicide option that combines targeted disease management with broader protection, offering growers another tool as they plan for variable field conditions and evolving disease risks.
For more information, visit: https://agriculture.basf.us/