Eco-friendly herbicide to be exported to Asian countries

A locally developed eco-friendly herbicide to be exported to Asian countries may help boost rice production in the region, a state-run laboratory said Sunday, according to Yonhap News.

The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) said its Metamifop herbicide, developed jointly with Dongbu Hitek, will be marketed in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Dongbu, a local agriculture and petrochemical company, signed an agreement to allow the U.S.-based FMC Corporation to sell the product in those countries, the KRICT said.

FMC expressed interest in the product and is working with Dongbu to register the herbicide for commercial sales to farmers.

Metamifop is a new post-emergence weed killer that provides excellent control on a wide range of weeds without affecting rice and grass growth or posing risks to the environment.

"The herbicide is a model example of cooperation between a state laboratory and a private company," a KRICT research said. He added that if sales take place, its could be a significant first step for the exports of locally made herbicides.