By Jamie Martin
BW Fusion has announced the release of BW Defend™, a new biocontrol product lineup created to help farmers strengthen pest and disease management in corn and soybean production. The new products expand the company’s offerings into EPA-registered biological insecticide and fungicide solutions that align with integrated pest management practices.
BW Defend™ combines Inclusion Carrier Technology with DUST, crop-specific biostimulants, and biocontrol strains to support early plant colonization.
This early interaction helps activate plant defense pathways, creating a priming effect that allows crops to respond more effectively when pests or diseases appear later in the season. Company representatives explain that the approach supports farming systems that rely more on biology and less on additional chemical inputs.
“Biocontrols are the future of farming. BW Defend™ is the first to BW Fusion and a strategic addition to our lineup that fits seamlessly into how we help growers become more efficient,” said Greg McClure, VP of Strategy for BW Fusion.
“This gives growers another tool that works with our systems approach, supporting healthier soil and plants, helping defend yield potential season-long, and offering more options that work with biology instead of just stacking additional chemistry,” said McClure.
The product lineup includes fungi-focused and pest-focused options for both major crops. In corn, BW Defend™ FC targets fungal diseases such as tar spot, crown rot, and southern rust, while BW Defend™ PC focuses on pests including rootworm species, wireworms, white grubs, fall armyworm, and nematodes.
For soybeans, BW Defend™ FS addresses fungal threats such as white mold, fusarium SDS, and phytophthora root rot. BW Defend™ PS is designed to help manage pest pressure from soybean loopers, stink bugs, and root knot nematodes.
Field trial data from 2023 through 2025 showed measurable benefits, including a 5.9-bushel improvement in corn and a 3.4-bushel gain in soybeans with fungi-focused protection. These results highlight the role biological solutions can play in improving crop resilience and protecting yield potential.
Additional practical features include a two-year shelf life, up to 180 days of seed viability after application, and compatibility with many standard seed treatment products.
BW Defend™ is part of the BW Control™ Series and will be available for the 2026 planting season. The launch follows a finalized agreement between BW Fusion and New Leaf Symbiotics, marking a new step in biological innovation for crop production.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: National