Koppert names Insect Science as preferred supplier for semiochemical pest control

Koppert, a Netherlands-based provider of biological crop protection solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Insect Science, a South African firm specializing in semiochemical technologies. The agreement, signed on June 19, 2025, in the Netherlands, names Insect Science as Koppert’s preferred supplier of semiochemical products and formalizes more than a year of joint development efforts between the two companies.

The partnership will initially target agricultural markets in Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), with further global expansion expected. The collaboration builds on a prior memorandum of understanding and has now advanced to a formal memorandum of agreement.

Semiochemicals are naturally occurring chemical signals that insects use to communicate. When replicated synthetically, they can influence pest behavior through methods such as mating disruption, mass trapping, or attract-and-kill systems. These tools offer high specificity and are environmentally benign, making them increasingly important in sustainable and integrated pest management programs.

“Partnering with Insect Science allows us to strengthen our biological solutions portfolio with advanced semiochemical technologies, ensuring we can support farmers with effective, targeted tools that also protect ecosystems,” said Martin Koppert, Chief Business Officer at Koppert.

Insect Science, based in Tzaneen, South Africa, brings to the partnership a dedicated R&D team with expertise in entomology, chemical ecology and synthesis. Its products are tested under field conditions to ensure reliability and performance. Koppert, headquartered in Berkel en Rodenrijs, the Netherlands, will source its full semiochemical range—including lures, mating disruption products, and mass trapping systems—exclusively from Insect Science under the new agreement.

“Our shared vision for responsible agriculture is the foundation of this partnership, and we look forward to what lies ahead,” said Martin van Niekerk, Technical and Commercial Director at Insect Science.

The companies said the partnership will support efforts to reduce chemical inputs in farming while improving crop health outcomes and supporting biodiversity.