Pesticide producer acquires herbicide

DuPont's Cotoron called strategic buy

The U.S. arm of one of the world's biggest pesticide producers is adding to its portfolio with the acquisition of a DuPont herbicide used in Southern cotton production.

Raleigh-based Makhteshim Agan of North America is acquiring DuPont's Cotoron, which kills and prevents broadleaf weeds and annual grasses. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Makhteshim officials said Cotoron, whose active ingredient is an older chemical called Fluometuron, is more of a strategic buy than a big revenue generator. Cotoron competes directly with Monsanto's Roundup and dozens of other herbicides that contain a different chemical called Glyphosate. Glyphosate products are dominant in the agricultural herbicide market, but are also losing efficacy in some cases. Weed control experts cite widespread use that appears to be resulting in strains of weed that are resistant to Glyphosate.

That's an opportunity for Cotoron to make a comeback, said Dave Downing, senior marketing manager for herbicides at Makhteshim's U.S. outfit.

"Universities are recommending a return to foundational herbicides," he said. He added that the market for Cotoron is small -- about $4 million to $4.5 million annually in the United States. "That's not huge now, but we expect it to grow as resistance issues with Glyphosate increase," he said.

Makhteshim Agan of North America moved its headquarters to Raleigh from New York in 2004. It employs about 40 people locally and about 50 overall. Its corporate parent, Makhteshim Agan Industries, is based in Israel and has more than 3,000 employees worldwide.

Makhteshim sells generic pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and other crop-protection chemicals.