BioWorks launches European division to expand biopesticides and biostimulants portfolio

BioFirst Group has launched BioWorks as a dedicated division to expand its biopesticides and biostimulants business into the European market. The move comes as growers face mounting regulatory restrictions on chemical pesticides and increased resistance among pests and diseases.

The new unit, operating independently within BioFirst alongside sister company Biobest, will focus on sustainable solutions for specialty crops including vegetables, soft fruit, and ornamentals, as well as open-field crops such as pome and stone fruit, citrus, leeks, and onions.

Lara Ramaekers, vice-president of the BioWorks division, said the strategy is designed to “provide European growers with effective, sustainable solutions that respond to the current challenges in agriculture and horticulture.”

A key element of the expansion is BioWorks’ integration with BIOTROP, a BioFirst subsidiary acquired earlier this year. BIOTROP brings research and development capacity, a pipeline of biological products, and advanced fermentation technology that will help accelerate product launches and broaden the division’s portfolio globally.

In Europe, BioWorks will rely on a network of national distributors, regional dealers and retail partners to deliver products and technical support. In certain markets, Biobest will continue to act as a local partner, maintaining direct contact with growers while BioWorks manages the brand and product portfolio.

For distributors, the change means direct purchases from BioWorks, while growers will continue working with their existing advisers. BioFirst said the new structure will deliver more specialised innovation and tighter coordination between product development and field advice.

The expansion underscores the wider shift in European agriculture toward biological crop protection, where demand is rising as farmers adapt to stricter pesticide rules and seek more resilient solutions.

Globally, the market for biopesticides and biostimulants has been expanding rapidly, with multinational groups such as Bayer, Syngenta and Corteva also investing heavily in sustainable crop inputs. Analysts expect biological solutions to represent a growing share of the $65 billion crop protection market over the next decade, as governments and consumers push for lower chemical residues in food and farming systems less dependent on synthetic pesticides.

By establishing BioWorks in Europe, BioFirst is aiming not only to serve one of the world’s most regulated agricultural regions but also to position itself as a stronger competitor in the global shift toward sustainable farming technologies.