A look inside the innovation poised to shake up crop protection.
There’s a silent thief lurking in nearly every agricultural field. It doesn’t buzz, bite, or leave a visible trail of destruction. Farmers won’t see it on their crop’s leaves or catch it on a scouting walk. By the time it has done its damage, however, its presence can be measured in the most painful of ways: weakened plants, reduced yield, and lost income.
This threat is microscopic. It’s underground. And it’s been massively underestimated for decades.
We’re talking, of course, about plant-parasitic nematodes.
According to the FAO, nematodes are responsible for an estimated 12% annual crop loss globally, totalling about $157 billion — more than losses caused by insect pests. Yet, few farmers can spot their impact before it’s too late. Even when farmers have attempted to control nematodes by utilizing crop protection methods, traditional tools have often come with trade-offs: limited specificity, environmental concerns, and inconsistent results.
Now, following over a decade of scientific development, a new class of technology is turning the tide. And it’s not just targeting the nematode problem — it’s redefining how the industry protects crops from the ground up.
“This is one of those rare moments when technology shifts the entire way we think about farming,” Jader Caricati, Global Product Management Lead at Syngenta, says. “For the first time, we have a way to provide long-lasting protection to multiple threats from below ground to above ground, from seeding right through to harvest in some crops, and in a way that’s sustainable, simple, and incredibly effective.”
Enter TYMIRIUM® technology
In 2024, Syngenta completed registration on and unveiled its new TYMIRIUM® technology seed treatment to the Chinese farm market. In 2025, it will be rolling TYMIRIUM® technology out to farmers and ag retailers in other key row crop regions of the world including North America (targeting the U.S.), South America (targeting Brazil) and Australia.
TYMIRIUM® technology is set to redefine how farmers manage both visible and invisible threats. It not only specifically targets nematodes, it also offers broad-spectrum control of soil-borne diseases and foliar pathogens. Its power lies not just in its potency, but in four breakthrough differentiators — each a solution to a long-standing limitation in crop protection.
1. Unmatched Below-Ground Performance
TYMIRIUM® technology represents Syngenta’s most potent nematicidal development to date, offering protection not just from nematodes but also a wide range of soil-borne fungal pathogens like Fusarium. Its dual action — functioning both as a nematicide and fungicide — makes it uniquely suited to manage complex soil challenges that compromise root systems.
“This molecule wasn’t just designed to tackle nematodes,” Caricati says. “It was designed to do it with extraordinary precision. It binds only to the specific molecular receptors in ‘bad guys’ — meaning plant-parasitic nematodes and pathogens — leaving soil’s many beneficial organisms – the ‘good guys’ such as earthworms, mycorrhizal fungi, soil mites and more — unharmed.”
Independent microbiome studies confirm that TYMIRIUM® technology maintains biodiversity in treated soils. By preserving what Caricati describe as the “good guys,” the product not only protects yield but supports a healthy, living soil, which is a core tenet of regenerative agriculture.
2. Long-Lasting Above-Ground Protection
While TYMIRIUM® technology is applied to the seed or soil, its protective reach doesn’t stop underground. The compound provides systemic protection against early foliar diseases, with efficacy that can extend all the way to harvest, particularly in crops like corn.
“This is the first time you’re seeing a seed treatment provide such durable above-ground protection,” Caricati notes.
“For some diseases, TYMIRIUM® technology delivers excellent levels of control through the full lifecycle of the crop — from planting to harvest. That’s never been seen before.
“That’s one of the pieces that has the broader scientific community the most excited about this chemistry.”
By lowering the initial pathogen load and offering early-season protection, TYMIRIUM® technology can enhance the performance of the foliar spray program. This strong foundation supports more effective disease management strategies throughout the crop cycle.
3. Simplicity and Flexibility
In an industry where complexity often adds cost, TYMIRIUM® technology is refreshingly simple. Its ultra-low application rate, compatibility with existing crop protection products —both chemical and biologicals — and suitability for a wide variety of crops and geographies make it easy to adopt.
“Farmers want effective tools that don’t complicate their lives,” Caricati says. “TYMIRIUM® technology can be seamlessly integrated into existing seed treatment lines, is tank-mix compatible, and is effective at extremely low dose rates — up to 10 times less than what you’d use if you applied separate products for nematodes, soil fungi, and foliar diseases.”
Its formulation also makes it particularly effective in no-till and low-till farming systems, helping farmers preserve soil structure while safeguarding young plants.
4. Sustainability Without Compromise
Perhaps most critically, TYMIRIUM® technology embodies the future of sustainable farming. Its targeted action minimizes impact on non-target species and the surrounding ecosystem. Its low use rate reduces chemical residue and packaging waste. And its yield-boosting power means more food from the same land — a critical advantage as demand for food, fuel, and fiber accelerates.
“Regenerative agriculture isn’t just a buzzword for us,” Caricati says. “It’s part of our DNA. Every innovation we bring forward is judged not just by how it performs in the field, but by how it fits into a sustainable production system.”
Syngenta’s partnership with organizations like The Nature Conservancy underscores this commitment. Together, they’ve launched projects like REVERTE® in Brazil’s Cerrado region to restore degraded lands while proving the economic viability of sustainable farming.
Making the Invisible Visible
The development of TYMIRIUM® technology began a decade and a half ago with a simple question: What will the biggest threats to crop productivity be in 10 to 15 years?
The answer, Syngenta’s scientists concluded, was below their feet.
With that foresight, they challenged their teams to create a molecule that could handle three threats simultaneously — nematodes, soil-borne fungi, and early foliar diseases — without compromising soil health or environmental safety.
“TYMIRIUM® technology is the culmination of 15 years of vision, discipline, and science,” Caricati says.
“It’s rare in this industry to find a product that checks every box: efficacy, selectivity, simplicity, sustainability.
“That’s why it’s being called a game-changer — not just by us, but by the researchers and agronomists we’ve partnered with worldwide.”
Global Rollout, Global Opportunity
TYMIRIUM® technology is launching across four of the world’s most significant agricultural markets: China, the United States, Brazil, and Australia — regions that together represent 80% of the potential demand for this technology.
Early results from field trials are promising. In Brazil, more than 1,000 corn and soybean trials have shown yield improvements across varied conditions, while trials in sugarcane, coffee, and tomato crops confirm long-lasting protection and soil health compatibility.
“At the heart of agriculture is a relationship between people and the land,” Caricati reflects. “Tools like TYMIRIUM® technology support that relationship — helping farmers produce more with less, while stewarding the land for generations to come.”
Toward a New Standard in Crop Protection
Agriculture is at a tipping point. With increasing demands on fewer acres and intensifying climate pressures, innovation is no longer optional. TYMIRIUM® technology offers a new path forward and a new standard for agricultural crop protection: powerful, selective, and regenerative.
“As growers navigate the evolving demands of modern agriculture,” Caricati says, “technologies like TYMIRIUM® technology signal a new era —where precision, sustainability, and performance can work hand in hand to shape the future of farming.”
Submitted by Syngenta
