Raising the bar: Corteva unveils new option for corn rootworm control

NEW ORLEANS — Corteva Agriscience introduced its next-generation corn rootworm technology at the Commodity Classic in New Orleans.

Vorceed Enlist corn will help enable growers to manage corn rootworm acres with more options than any other corn seed product, said Tony Klemm, Corteva Agriscience corn portfolio vice president.

The new product boasts three modes of action for above-ground insect protection, three modes of action for below-ground insect protection and tolerance to four herbicide modes of action to help better manage resistant weeds.

In particular, a novel RNAi mode of action will help manage trait durability, as well as control rootworm feeding and suppress future egg populations, Klemm said.

So, what does that really mean?

“It means season-long rootworm control and sound of mind for our customers,” Klemm said. “It’s taking those elite genetics with some new insect protection that’s going to deliver a higher performing product for our customers.”

Vorceed Enlist technology will be available in products across all Corteva seed brands, including Pioneer, Brevant seeds, AgVenture, Dairyland Seed, Hoegemeyer, NuTech and Seed Consultants.

Klemm said Corteva has seen great success with its current corn rootworm trait platform of Qrome products since it was introduced in 2019.

“We’ve seen an average of 6 to 8 bushels per acre yield advantage over SmartStax, our leading competitor. We expect to continue to see this yield advantage and the type of yield potential with our new product,” he said.

“We’re excited to expand access to farmers to this technology in the 2023 season. We’ll ramp the product up and this product will be our leading corn rootworm trait offer in the portfolio by mid-decade.”

Three Keys

Judd O’Connnor, president of U.S. commercial business for Corteva Agriscience, said Qrome raised the bar in yield and performance — “and we’re going to raise the bar again.”

O’Connnor said he thinks of three things when he thinks of Vorceed.

1. Maximum yield: “We’ve got the deepest, broadest, most well-known germplasm pool in the world, bar none, with some of the greatest scientists that know how to mine that and some of the best tools available to continue to drive just pure yield.”

2. Exceptional rootworm control: “Vorceed brings three modes of action. So, we add RNAi to the mix underground, you’ve got three modes of action above ground. So, we’re going to have durability, we’re going to have strength, we’re going to have performance.”

3. Herbicide flexibility: “We’re going to bring 2,4-D choline tolerance for later season applications when growers need that. We’ve also got glyphosate resistance, glufosinate resistance and we’re bringing FOP resistance with Vorceed, as well.”

Vorceed Enlist corn is the first-ever corn trait launched by Corteva since its formation a couple years ago — but it is only the beginning, Klemm said.

“Corteva’s corn technology pipeline is truly the industry-leading pipeline. It is chockablock full of exciting new traits and other technologies that will be coming over the next 10 years,” he said.

“We really capitalize on our global strength with a local focus. We have 5,000 scientists that wake up every morning with an objective of how they solve our customers’ challenges.”