- Approval received from all regulatory authorities where required
- BASF takes full ownership of AgBiTech, strengthening its biolocial solutions offering for growers in Australia and other key global markets
On March 31, 2026, BASF Agricultural Solutions successfully closed its acquisition of AgBiTech. 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. The acquisition is 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. 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,” said Livio Tedeschi, President of BASF Agricultural Solutions.
Adriano Vilas-Boas, CEO of AgBiTech, commented: “Joining BASF marks an important milestone for AgBiTech’s mission to make biological insect control accessible to farmers worldwide. 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.”
Founded in Australia, and locally based out of Toowoomba Queensland, AgBiTech brings more than 25 years of local manufacturing and technical capability, providing a strong foundation for supporting Australian growers. AgBiTech’s Australian manufacturing is specialised in formulating key baculovirus products and manufacturing important semio-chemical technologies.
“For growers, this acquisition means access to a broader range of biological tools that can be integrated into their Integrated Pest Management program,” said Parvana Wali, Head of BASF Agricultural Solutions, Australia and New Zealand. “By bringing together AgBiTech’s biological pest control expertise and BASF’s portfolio, we can support practical, effective solutions suited to Australian conditions.”
Please download the full news release here and media photo here.
About BASF Agricultural Solutions
Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide sufficient and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. With €990 million in 2025, we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, and our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and stakeholders along the value chain. In 2025, our business generated sales of €9.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.
About AgBiTech
AgBiTech is a global leader in biological pest control, 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 USA, Australia, and Brazil, and products used in important row and specialty crops. AgBiTech's mission is to make farming more profitable and sustainable by providing effective, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides. Learn more at www.agbitech.com.