Biopesticides Gaining Momentum: BASF, Corteva, and FMC Signal a New Era for Biologicals
March 11, 2026 After years of promised and mixed results, biopesticides are entering a new phase. Market forecasts project global biopesticide sales to achieve roughly $15 billion to $16 billion in value by 2029. Still, this is a fraction of the broader crop protection products market, which is often estimated at nearly $80 billion annually.
More proof of biopesticides moving ahead is illustrated in recent activity by multinationals’ acquisitions and investment in pipeline builds and launch-ready platforms that move biologicals from specialty tools into mainstream portfolios.
In 2026, the shift to biopesticides is as much about positioning as it is about chemistry. For example, in January, BASF announced its acquisition of AgBiTech. AgBiTech has been a pioneer working with nucleopolyhedroviruses, a naturally occurring bioinsecticide that controls lepidopteran larvae on corn, soybean, and cotton.
“Brazil is one of the fastest-growing markets for biological crop protection,” says Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing and Sustainability at BASF. “This planned acquisition is a consequent step in executing our strategy that strengthens our presence as an integrated solution provider in this highly relevant segment.”
The acquisition brings more than just technology, however. BASF is picking up manufacturing facilities in Brazil, the U.S., and Australia, along with R&D capabilities and personnel. It’s a signal that established crop protection companies are serious about scaling biological technologies.
And the numbers back up that sense of urgency. In a 2025 review in Frontiers in Insect Science, biologicals industry pioneer Pam Marrone noted that biopesticides are projected to grow 10% to 20% annually, outpacing conventional chemistries. Marrone also noted that when used in integrated pest management systems, biologicals can deliver higher yields and improved crop quality than chemical-only strategies.
Corteva Enters the Game
For a long time, biological insect control was something growers heard about, maybe tested once, then quietly set aside. Corteva Agriscience’s move into bioinsecticides suggests that this is starting to change. With the launch of Goltrevo, the company is stepping into biologicals for the first time in a serious way.
Goltrevo is formulated around Beauveria bassiana 203, an entomopathogenic fungus originally isolated from palm weevils. It is used to control sap-feeding insects such as aphids, whiteflies, and leafhoppers, as well as chewing pests like caterpillars and root-feeding larvae.
“Innovation is at the core of our crop protection business, and today’s announcement further advances our global leadership,” says Robert King, Executive Vice President of Crop Protection for Corteva. “These new insect management solutions complement our existing portfolio and will help farmers better manage costly insect damage.”
While BASF and Corteva are making headlines with acquisitions and first-time product launches, FMC Corp. has taken a different path into biologicals.
Rather than jump into the crowded biostimulant market or promise silver-bullet replacements for synthetic products, the company has made a deliberate choice: Focus exclusively on EPA-registered biopesticides that complement existing crop protection programs.
Matthew Pye, North American Plant Health Technical Manager for FMC, says that distinction and functional use matters.
“[Biologicals] aren’t meant to replace synthetics,” Pye explains. “They are meant to work with them. We are always looking for opportunities to create these novel combinations, marrying biologicals with traditional synthetic chemistry.”
The strategy plays out in products like Ethos XB, a pre-mix that combines a proprietary Bacillus-based biological with a synthetic insecticide for corn seed treatment. It’s become what Pye calls a gateway product, because it combines a biological with a chemistry growers already trust and feels familiar.
“When biopesticides were emerging, a lot of problems came from over-promising,” Pye says. “Expectations and reality are especially important with biologicals. Too many were positioned as replacements for synthetics instead of complements, and that created disappointment and skepticism.”
FMC’s strategy is to let performance speak for itself. Pye is open about the limits.
“Honestly, we don’t always beat a synthetic in terms of efficacy,” he says. “But we’re usually right there, toe-to-toe. Where we often win is on return-on-investment.”
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