BASF to build new manufacturing facility for biological crop protection products

The crop protection and chemicals business has announced it is to invest in a new fermentation plant for biological and biotechnology-based crop protection products at its Ludwigshafen site in Germany.

clock • 1 min read
Penicillium fungal cells in a fermentation broth.
Image:

Penicillium fungal cells in a fermentation broth.

Biological fungicides and biological seed treatments will be among the products set to be manufactured at the plant, where BASF is also planning to produce the main building block of a novel insecticide derived from a fungal strain.

Commissioning of the plant, which represents a high double-digit million euro investment, is planned for the second half of 2025. It will use microorganisms to convert renewable raw materials such as glucose into the desired products - a process known as fermentation.

See also: How soil biology can ward off pests - but should we buy it in?

"We see a growing demand for biological crop protection products," says Marko Grozdanovic, senior vice president, global strategic marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions.

"In addition, fermentation is a very flexible technology that will allow us to bring more innovative biotechnology-derived products to the market in the future."

More on Arable

Immediate feedback and transparency key in crop contract reform

Immediate feedback and transparency key in crop contract reform

Contract fairness was in focus in the sector breakout at the NFU Conference (February 24)

Alex Black
clock 02 March 2026 • 2 min read
BeetTech26 highlights sugar beet pest and disease priorities for 2026

BeetTech26 highlights sugar beet pest and disease priorities for 2026

With sugar beet drilling approaching, a visit to BeetTech26 provided an opportunity to catch up with practical advice for the new season and gain an insight into technology advances in sugar beet

Teresa Rush
clock 28 February 2026 • 6 min read
High-tech imaging set to transform grey field slug monitoring

High-tech imaging set to transform grey field slug monitoring

Researchers from the UK Agri-Tech Centre and Rothamsted Research have identified a high-tech method to detect the grey field slug, or Deroceras reticulatum

clock 26 February 2026 • 2 min read