Hydrogen cyanamide: a collective responsibility

Philagro South Africa and industry bodies stand together to protect growers’ access to an essential rest-breaking chemical. By Anna Mouton.

In 2025, the Women on Farms Project, a self-described feminist non-governmental organisation, started agitating for a ban on hydrogen cyanamide in South Africa. Schalk Reynolds, Managing Director of Philagro South Africa, spoke to Fresh Quarterly about the activists’ campaign and the industry’s response.

Q. Why is hydrogen cyanamide under renewed pressure?

A. Last year, Philagro South Africa received a memorandum on behalf of AlzChem, the German manufacturer of Dormex, in which the Women on Farms Project demanded that AlzChem must stop the production, export, and agricultural use of Dormex immediately, and Philagro must stop distributing it in South Africa. The activists also protested at our offices.

So far, the Women on Farms Project has targeted AlzChem and Philagro South Africa exclusively, even though six generic hydrogen cyanamide products are registered in South Africa.

We coordinated a response in consultation with all the agricultural organisations, including CropLife South Africa, Hortgro, SATI, Agri Western Cape, and Agbiz. We decided to meet with the Women on Farms Project.

At the meeting, we intended to sit around a table, listen to the activists’ concerns, and collectively find solutions. Although we presented the facts about hydrogen cyanamide to them, they remained adamant that they would accept only a complete ban on the product.

Q. What are some of the activists’ misconceptions about hydrogen cyanamide?

A. They believe that hydrogen cyanamide is a HHP [Highly Hazardous Pesticide], which it isn’t. It doesn’t meet the criteria. Elriza Theron of CropLife clarified the definition and explained the criteria for HHP’s to them when we met.

They also claim that hydrogen cyanamide is banned in Europe. Although Dormex is not registered for use in the European Union, AlzChem annually applies for permits to use Dormex in Greece and Portugal, and it recently also obtained a permit for its use in Italy.

Looking beyond Europe, Dormex is registered worldwide for use on fruit and vine crops in countries with insufficient winter chill.

The activists also accused growers of failing to provide their workers with PPE [personal protective equipment]. I presented information to them showing that most of our deciduous fruit and table grapes are exported, so our growers need accreditation by organisations such as GLOBALG.A.P.

These certifications cover integrated pest management, soil and water management, safe and responsible use of agrochemicals, proper PPE, record keeping, worker health and safety, and traceability from farm to table.

However, it can happen that workers don’t wear their PPE correctly, especially in warm areas. We have a collective responsibility to ensure the safe and responsible use of agrochemical products.

Q. Did you communicate the importance of hydrogen cyanamide?

A. At the meeting, Hortgro and SATI explained the need for rest-breaking and how it’s likely to increase due to climate change. In South Africa, probably 90% of hydrogen cyanamide is sprayed on table and wine grapes. Grape growers can’t use mineral oil, as it’s phytotoxic to grapevines.

The remaining 10% is mainly used for apples, pears, plums, and cherries. In these crops, growers have other options, such as mineral oil and synthetic cytokinins. They’re not always effective enough on their own, so growers combine mineral oil and hydrogen cyanamide.

Everyone is looking for alternative rest-breaking agents. So far, nothing is on par with hydrogen cyanamide. This was part of my message to the Women on Farms Project: we should all work together to ensure the product is applied correctly and safely, so the fruit industry can continue using it until an alternative is available.

Q. What has Philagro South Africa subsequently done to protect Dormex?

A. We have always given technical talks and provided training. However, last year we decided to increase our focus on the safe and responsible use of Dormex at the farm level. So, we trained 820 spray operators in various regions on the safe handling and use of Dormex.

The training has been well received by all industry stakeholders and has had a positive outcome from a product stewardship perspective. This year, we’re taking it even further — we’re giving every Dormex user a complete PPE kit from AlzChem.

We’ve also proposed two label amendments. The first is to remove the provision for handgun and knapsack spray applications, as those increase the risk of worker exposure, for example, skin contact with hydrogen cyanamide. In future, applications will be limited to tractors with spray rigs.

The second is the addition of a buffer zone — no one may be within eight metres of the mist blower during spraying. The reason for this amendment is that on small production units, especially of table grapes, one grower might be applying rest-breaking sprays while his neighbour on the other side of the road is pruning. This could expose the pruners to spray drift.

Q. Is the registration of hydrogen cyanamide in danger?

A. The Registrar of Act 36 of 1947 is under tremendous pressure from the numerous protests of organisations like Women on Farms. Last year, all registration holders had to submit the latest research done on worker exposure, risk mitigation proposals, and a summary of product registrations globally, particularly in respect to the regulation of applications, to the Registrar.

In some countries, specific guidelines apply to the use of hydrogen cyanamide. For example, in the United States, applications must be performed in a closed-canopy environment. The tractor must have a closed cabin.

The proposals and amendments to our Dormex label were submitted to the Registrar in December 2025, and we’re awaiting feedback. In my opinion, it’s unlikely that hydrogen cyanamide will be banned, as it’s not an HHP and poses no health risk when used responsibly, safely, and according to the label.

Q. What can the industry do to ensure growers retain access to hydrogen cyanamide?

A. We all need to work together. The agricultural value chain, including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, growers, and workers, has a collective responsibility to ensure the legal, responsible, and safe handling and use of all agricultural remedies. Otherwise, we will lose more products that we can’t really farm without.