It is estimated that corn rootworm is costing farmers nearly $1 billion per year in control measures and lost yield potential. The pest causes severe root feed, lodging and standability issues. Syngenta Corn Product Manager Matt Dolch says CRW is a major management challenge. “The adult beetles lay eggs in the soil, making a pest below ground threat that’s hard to detect until you start to see that damage happen out in the field or it becomes visible.” Syngenta is introducing the first three Bt protein stacks for corn rootworm control. “Not all traits are created equal; we’ve got an opportunity here from a Syngenta trait perspective with the launch of DuraStak hybrids to bring forward farmers an opportunity to change it up,” said Dolch. “We can’t keep doing the same thing year after year after year and expect different results.” Durastak will be available for the 2027 growing season. Watch the interview.
