ADAMA and BASF agree to develop new fungicide for European crops

Israel-based crop protection company ADAMA and Germany’s BASF have signed a strategic agreement to jointly develop and commercialize new fungicides for European agriculture, the companies said, as farmers contend with increasing disease resistance and the loss of existing products under stricter regulation.

The collaboration will focus on products based on ADAMA’s proprietary active ingredient Gilboa, also known as flumetylsuforim. Under the terms of the agreement, BASF will develop and market new formulations using the molecule alongside ADAMA’s own Gilboa-based products. At the same time, each company will independently set its pricing, sales, and go-to-market strategies.

The partners stated that the alliance aims to expedite the development of next-generation disease management tools for European farmers, particularly as older active ingredients are phased out under European Union regulations. The cooperation combines ADAMA’s expertise in formulation, mixtures, and innovation with BASF’s development capabilities and extensive market reach across Europe.

Gilboa provides a novel mode of action for cereal crops and was classified earlier this year by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee as part of FRAC Group 32, which targets nucleic acid metabolism. According to the companies, the molecule provides a platform for broad-spectrum, long-lasting disease control, thereby helping to protect crop yields and quality.

“Farmers have been clear about their need for reliable, resilient protection against a broad range of diseases,” said Florian Wagner, executive vice president for portfolio and innovation at ADAMA. He said the partnership with BASF would help ensure faster delivery of the innovation to growers across Europe.

Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President for Global Strategic Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions, stated that the companies have collaborated successfully for over a decade. He added that combining BASF’s fungicide portfolio and market expertise with ADAMA’s active ingredient and product capabilities would speed farmers’ access to new solutions.

Subject to regulatory approvals, the companies plan to launch Gilboa-based fungicide formulations for wheat in the United Kingdom in 2027, with broader rollouts across Europe expected to begin in 2029.