How ADAMA’s Gilboa Is a Major Breakthrough in Fungicide Technology for European Farmers
27 December 2024 As European farmers face escalating challenges from fungal diseases and the increasing threat of fungicide resistance, Gilboa stands out as a transformative solution. AgriBusiness Global recently spoke with ADAMA’s Head of Global Fungicides, Alex Mills, who shared valuable insights into the product’s development, field trial results, the road ahead for Gilboa’s anticipated launch, and how ADAMA is committed to supporting farmers throughout this journey.
ABG: What challenges are European farmers currently encountering with existing fungicide solutions, and how does Gilboa address these issues?
Alex Mills, ADAMA
Alex Mills: Farmers in Europe are increasingly confronted with fungal diseases such as Septoria in wheat, Ramularia in barley, and Sclerotinia in oilseed rape. While current fungicide solutions are largely effective in disease control and yield protection, they depend heavily on a limited range of modes of action.
Most cereal fungicides today belong to a few core families: DMI (triazoles), SDHI (carboxamides), QOI (strobilurins), and QIL (picolinamides). However, the latest fungicide innovations have largely adhered to these same modes of action, targeting similar fungal sites.
This reliance on a narrow spectrum of modes of action poses a considerable risk. Without broader diversification, fungicide resistance could develop, undermining disease control and potentially leading to reduced yields.
Gilboa offers a potentially new mode of action for cereals, providing farmers with an innovative tool to combat disease while safeguarding yield expectations. By incorporating Gilboa into their fungicide programs, farmers will have a valuable option that enhances disease management and resistance strategies, ensuring sustainable yields well into the future.
ABG: How does Gilboa’s unique mode of action contribute to sustainable agriculture and long-term resistance management strategies?
AM: Gilboa is expected to introduce a novel mode of action for combating fungal diseases in cereals. Unlike existing solutions, Gilboa targets the DNA/RNA metabolism of fungi, offering a distinct activity profile that sets it apart from current fungicides.
This new mode of action is crucial for sustainability in agriculture, as it provides farmers with much-needed diversity in their fungicide options. Diversity is vital for ensuring long-term, reliable disease control while reducing the risk of resistance development.
Extensive testing has demonstrated that Gilboa exhibits no cross-resistance with any of the existing modes of action currently available. This breakthrough gives farmers a broader selection of fungicides, enabling them to adopt more effective, long-term resistance management strategies.
ABG: What are the next steps in the registration process, and how will ADAMA support farmers during the waiting period for Gilboa’s approval in Europe?
AM: The next key milestone in the registration process for Gilboa is securing Annex 1 approval for its unique mode of action in both Great Britain (GB) and the European Union (EU), expected by the end of 2025. After this, we will submit for Annex 3 approval to register specific Gilboa-based products. We’ve already submitted Annex 3 in GB, positioning us to launch Gilboa solutions there in 2027, with a broader rollout across the EU anticipated by 2029.
While farmers await the arrival of Gilboa, ADAMA is committed to supporting them with our proven, effective solutions already on the market. Folpet, our trusted multisite action fungicide, continues to play a pivotal role in preventing fungal diseases. Additionally, we plan to launch three new solutions starting in 2026, which will feature enhanced formulations for improved efficacy, usability, and a broader spectrum of disease control.
We are actively introducing farmers to Gilboa and its capabilities. In 2024, we began hosting events in GB to showcase Gilboa, and in 2025 and 2026, we will expand these efforts through trial programs, field demonstrations, and educational initiatives across GB and the EU. These initiatives will ensure farmers are well-prepared to incorporate Gilboa into their disease management strategies once it is available.
ABG: What makes this new active ingredient particularly innovative and different?
AM: Gilboa introduces a potentially new mode of action for cereals, offering both preventative and curative activity. This provides farmers with greater flexibility in their disease management programs. The innovation behind Gilboa is not only in its mode of action but also in its unique movement within the plant.
Unlike many fungicides that move exclusively through the xylem, Gilboa is mobile in both the xylem and the phloem. This dual mobility allows the active ingredient to reach and protect parts of the plant that other fungicides cannot, representing a significant advancement in fungicide technology.
ABG: Why is this technology particularly critical for GB and EU farmers in their fight against fungicide resistance?
AM: Across Europe, farmers are witnessing a concerning trend: a decline in the sensitivity of fungal pathogens to existing fungicide modes of action, leading to reduced disease control. While full resistance has not yet emerged in all strains, this shift highlights a growing challenge for effective disease management.
Gilboa is a much-needed addition to the fight against fungicide resistance. By introducing a new mode of action, Gilboa provides critical diversity to resistance management strategies. This alternative approach enhances control over resistant strains and delays further resistance development, enabling farmers to maintain reliable, long-term disease control.
ABG: Could you share some of the feedback received from field trials so far?
AM: Since its inception in 2016, we’ve conducted over 1,500 trials for Gilboa, consistently delivering excellent results. When tested against leading fungicides currently on the market, Gilboa has demonstrated equal or superior performance. For example, in trials targeting wheat Septoria, 65 studies revealed that 35% of trials showed superior performance compared to existing solutions.
In wheat, Gilboa demonstrated a lasting effect, providing enhanced disease control for up to 40 days after the final application. Trials also showed that 72% of the flag leaf area remained green for a longer period after the last treatment, contributing to higher yields.
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