BASF has completed the acquisition of AgBiTech after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. Photo: BASF

BASF AGRICULTURAL Solutions has completed its acquisition of AgBiTech, expanding its biological insect control portfolio.

This follows the agreement with private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners and other shareholders signed in January 2026, and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

BASF Agricultural Solutions president Livio Tedeschi said the acquisition was expected to enable faster scaling and broader adoption of biological solutions and reinforces BASF’s commitment to offer farmers more effective and diversified insect control options.

“The biologicals market continues to expand at a strong pace,” Mr Tedeschi said.

“Acquiring AgBiTech strengthens our position in this attractive segment and complements our existing portfolio with proven biological technologies.

“We warmly welcome our new colleagues, and I am confident that, together, we will accelerate meaningful progress for our customers and for agriculture by further expanding biological solutions across global markets.”

AgBiTech chief executive officer Adriano Vilas-Boas said the company was looking forward to what the future will bring both organisations following this move.

“Joining BASF marks an important milestone for AgBiTech’s mission to make biological insect control accessible to farmers worldwide,” Mr Vilas-Boas.

“BASF’s global reach, strong R&D ecosystem and deep agricultural expertise will help accelerate the impact of our technologies.

“We are proud of what our teams have built and excited for this next chapter.”

AgBiTech is a global leader in biological crop protection, specializing in products that use naturally occurring viruses to manage caterpillar pests in major row crops.

Founded in Australia in 2000 by a farmer and a scientist, the company now has a global presence with manufacturing facilities in the US, Australia, and Brazil, and products used in row and specialty crops.

Its mission is to make farming more profitable and sustainable by providing efficacious, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides.

AgBiTech has established a strong footprint in Brazil, which is one of the most dynamic markets for biological crop protection.

The acquisition is expected to enable BASF to scale AgBiTech’s biological technologies globally, expanding their impact beyond Brazil and integrating them into BASF’s broader crop protection portfolio.

Maintaining agility and a strong customer focus, combined with deep market expertise, will be essential to continue supporting growers with effective solutions.

Source: BASF