Contributing to Resolve Social Issues
Herbicide AXEEV®

Increasing food production is an urgent issue in the world in order to support the world’s population, which is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. At the same time, this means that severe damage to the environment will be inevitable including deforestation in order to expand more cropland. To increase food production without relying on the expansion of cropland, it’s necessary to improve productivity through the proper use of safe and secure agricultural chemicals that have passed the risk assessments on living organisms and the environment.
Recently, the impact of agricultural chemicals on the natural environment has drawn attention. In the EU, the “Farm to Fork Strategy” (Published by the European Commission in May 2020) and the “Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI” (announced by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in May 2021) in Japan were formulated to request less impact on the environment.
In the 1990s, genetically modified crops (GMOs^*1) were introduced in the agriculture market that were tolerant to the non-selective herbicide glyphosate, and this had a major impact on the cultivation system. Cultivation systems using glyphosate capable of killing most plants and GMO crops tolerant to glyphosate were quickly accepted by growers due to its convenience. Currently, the system accounts for more than 90% of the soybeans and corn production in the Americas. However, a continuation of such a cultivation system resulted in a problem. Weeds that were resistant to glyphosate (herbicide-resistant weeds^*2) began to appear. Glyphosate-resistant weeds were first reported around 2000, and it was becoming a problem around 2005. These had already begun a major problem worldwide when Axeev® was first launched in 2011. Currently, countermeasures are needed to control herbicide-resistant weeds in order to ensure stable food production throughout the world.
AXEEV®, which we developed, is widely accepted in the market as a tool to resolve such a problem, and although it has been over 10 years since the first launch, the number of countries where it is registered continues to increase along with sales.

• 1 GMO (Genetically Modified Organism): Crops that have been modified using genetic recombination technology. They are highly tolerant to diseases and pests and are not killed by herbicides.
• 2 Herbicide-resistant weeds: Weeds for which herbicides have lost effectiveness due to repeated use of the same type of herbicide.

Herbicide-resistant weeds have spread to the countries and regions shown in light red to dark red on the map. The number of reported serious cases in the U.S. has reached 132.
Source: INTERNATIONAL HERBICIDE- RESISTANT WEED DATABASE (As of May 2025)

Exploratory research for AXEEV® began with the aim of discovering a novel herbicide that provides the same efficacy at 1/10 the dosage of other conventional soil-applied herbicides ^*3 for field crops.
The lead compound of AXEEV® (the candidate compound we initially focused on) was synthesized in 1998, which showed potential for further development. At the same period, genetically modified crops (GMOs) with tolerance to the non-selective herbicide glyphosate began to appear, causing major changes to the cultivation system. The use of glyphosate together with GMO crops became a common cultivation system, which caused some companies to minimize or suspend research and development for new herbicides. However, based on the knowledge we had gained through our research and development up to that point, we continued our research and development of herbicides in anticipation of a time when new herbicides would be needed.
To discover new herbicides with high herbicidal efficacy and crop safety, we repeated synthesis and screening tests based on our lead compound, and in 2002, we finally discovered AXEEV® (active ingredient name: pyroxasulfone). Later, more than 100 trials were conducted on fields yearly in the U.S. Meanwhile, in Japan, research was conducted to establish global formulations and industrial manufacturing processes. AXEEV® is a soil-applied herbicide that is applied on the soil and the active ingredient is absorbed by weeds through the soil. Therefore, we needed to study various factors including the type of soil and the impact of rainfall amounts which may influence herbicidal efficacy and crop safety. We conducted a large number of studies in Japan and field trials in target countries and then finally determined the proper application dosages and application conditions in each market. We also conducted assessment studies on safety and environmental impact, which are required for the registration application of agricultural chemicals. It took considerable time and effort to prepare data for the registration application. In 2011, 13 years after the lead compound was first synthesized, we finally got the first registration approval of AXEEV® in Australia, and we launched the first AXEEV® product under the trade name SAKURA®.

• 3 Soil-applied herbicides: Herbicides that are applied onto the soil. Herbicides can be categorized into two types, soil-applied herbicides or foliar-applied herbicides.

AXEEV® is the brand name of the active ingredient “pyroxasulfone,” which is an agricultural chemical discovered and developed by Kumiai. Since its first launch in 2011, it has been the main product of our group and continues to grow steadily as a specific herbicide for controlling weeds that are resistant to conventional herbicides, and has helped to increase our business performance.

Applicable to major crops including soybeans, corn, wheat and sugarcane

Soil-applied herbicide for field crops
Sprayed onto the soil before weeds germinate

Spraying AXEEV® forms a layer of AXEEV® on the soil surface. When AXEEV® is absorbed by soybean and weed sprouts, only the weeds are killed while the soybeans continue growing.

Highly effective against glyphosate-resistant weeds

Currently, more than 90% of soybeans and corn in the Americas is grown using a combination of the herbicide glyphosate, which kills most plants, with GMO crops tolerant to glyphosate. This cultivation system was introduced in the 1990s, but during the 2010s, resistant weeds to glyphosate became a major problem. Since AXEEV® provides excellent efficacy for controlling glyphosate-resistant weeds, it is in high demand in areas where such herbicide-resistant weeds have become a problem.

Low dosage

AXEEV® shows effectiveness at low dosage that are about 1/10 that of conventional soil-applied herbicides. This not only helps to reduce the labor needed for spraying agricultural chemicals, but it also Contributes to reduce the environmental impact and CO₂ emissions related to transportation.

Excellent long-lasting weed control by soil-applied herbicide

AXEEV® is effective for about two weeks longer than conventional soil-applied herbicides. The negative impact of weeds on crops can be reduced, while better productivity and higher crop yield are expected as the results. Since it is possible to reduce the amount of agricultural chemicals being applied, it will reduce the environmental impact.

• The efficacy of AXEEV® in corn field

The mode of action making it difficult to develop resistance

AXEEV® has a mode of action that makes it difficult for resistance to be developed. Therefore, it is expected to continue to contribute to improved crop productivity as an herbicide-resistant weed control product.

Since its launch in Australia in 2011 as a soil-applied herbicide for wheat, AXEEV® has driven the growth of our group as a mainstay product.
Because it can be applicable to major crops such as soybeans, corn, wheat, and sugarcane, it is mainly sold in major markets including the U.S., Australia, Argentina, Brazil and India.
AXEEV® shows excellent long-lasting efficacy for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds, especially against ryegrass in wheat and amaranthus in soybean. We have taken advantage of this characteristic to provide technical service, conduct sales promotion of AXEEV® products, and introduce new mixture products in the markets where herbicide-resistant weeds are becoming a big problem. As a result, AXEEV® has come to be recognized among growers as an essential product for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds and established a position in the market.
We also have conducted sales promotion in countries where it is on the market, and are making an effort to expand the market by expanding its application to other crops while increasing the number of countries where it is registered. Now, AXEEV® products are registered in 25 countries(As of April 2025) and distributed through our partners in each country.
AXEEV® products are also developed for non-agricultural use, and distributed as a herbicide for turfgrass in golf courses in Japan and South Korea, and we are working to expand sales.