Vive Crop Protection has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for Bifender Duo, a hybrid soil insecticide combining synthetic chemistry and biological technology to target soil insects and nematodes.

The product pairs bifenthrin with a biopesticide active ingredient developed and manufactured by ProFarm. The combination provides two distinct modes of action against soil insects, along with activity against nematodes.

“Bifender Duo gives growers something they’ve been asking for: broad, reliable protection against soil insects and nematodes in a single product,” said Marie Yeager, senior product manager for Bifender Duo at Vive.

By combining bifenthrin, an established insecticide active ingredient, with a biological mode of action, the product is designed to build on the performance of conventional chemistry while providing an additional approach to pest control, Yeager said.

The biological active ingredient received EPA registration as a new active ingredient in 2025. Vive subsequently worked with ProFarm to develop the commercial formulation, using its Precision Chemistry Technology to make adjustments and optimize the product for large-scale production.

“Bifender Duo is a great example of what our technology is built to do: take two proven types of crop protection and combine them into a single product that performs better than either alone,” said Dr. Doug Baumann, chief technology officer at Vive Crop Protection.

Baumann said the combination delivers two modes of action against soil insects and nematodes in one application, reflecting the company’s focus on developing crop protection products that bring together synthetic and biological technologies.

Vive is now pursuing state registrations for Bifender Duo, with key approvals expected by Feb. 1, 2027.

The Toronto-based company develops conventional and biological crop inputs using its patented Allosperse Delivery Technology, which is designed to improve product performance from the container through application in the field.