--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20260617-aphea-bio-and-bayer-partner-on-bioinsecticides-for-sap-sucking-pests/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Aphea.Bio and Bayer partner on bioinsecticides for sap-sucking pests Publication Date: 2026-06-17T17:00:00-04:00 Last Updated: 2026-06-25T00:27:43-04:00 Author: Timothy Bueno (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/timbueno/) Categories: [Markets](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/), [AgTech & Research](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/agtech-and-research/), [Crop Protection](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/markets/crop-protection/) ![Colorado beetle eats a potato leaves young. Pests destroy a crop in the field. Parasites in wildlife and agriculture.](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/colorado-beetle-eats-a-potato-leaves-young-pests-destroy-a-crop-in-the-field-parasites-in-wildlife-and-agriculture-stockpack-istock-scaled.jpg) Microbial metabolite leads target aphids and thrips in fruit crops first, with Bayer handling development and global commercialization. Aphea.Bio has entered a strategic research partnership with Bayer to develop a new generation of bioinsecticides targeting sap-sucking pests, the companies announced on June 10 following a signing ceremony in Monheim, Germany. Aphea.Bio, a Ghent-based spinout of VIB, Ghent University and KU Leuven, will apply its microbial natural product (MNP) discovery platform to identify candidate molecules. Bayer will lead development, regulatory work and global commercialization. The collaboration targets aphids and thrips, which transmit plant viruses and cause heavy crop losses. Initial focus is on pome and stone fruit, citrus and grapes, with later expansion into vegetables and row crops such as cotton and soybean. The products are based on non-living microbial derivatives rather than live organisms, which the partners say offers longer shelf life and more consistent field performance than many conventional biologicals. Chief executive Isabel Vercauteren said the partnership pairs Aphea.Bio's discovery engine with Bayer's scale. Chief technology officer Steven Vandenabeele leads the company's research effort. Demand for biological crop protection is rising as regulators tighten rules on synthetic insecticides and resistance spreads across major pests. Source: [AgroSpectrum Asia](https://agrospectrumasia.com/2026/06/10/aphea-bio-and-bayer-join-forces-to-develop-next-generation-bioinsecticides-for-global-agriculture.html) --- ## Aphea.Bio and Bayer: five things to know ### What is Aphea.Bio?+ Aphea.Bio is a Belgian agricultural biotechnology company founded as a spinout of the research institute VIB, Ghent University and KU Leuven. It develops microbial-based products for crop protection and crop nutrition, screening microbes and the molecules they produce for agronomic activity. ### What are microbial natural products?+ Microbial natural products are molecules produced by microbes such as bacteria and fungi. Because they are isolated compounds rather than living cells, they can be formulated for longer shelf life and more predictable field performance than many live biological products. ### Which pests and crops does the partnership target?+ It focuses on sap-sucking insects, chiefly aphids and thrips, which spread plant viruses. Early development covers pome and stone fruit, citrus and grapes, with later expansion planned into vegetables and row crops such as cotton and soybean. ### What does each partner contribute?+ Aphea.Bio provides discovery and early screening through its MNP platform. Bayer brings development capacity, regulatory expertise and a global distribution network. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement. ### Why does this matter for the crop protection market?+ Biological inputs are among the fastest-growing segments of crop protection as synthetic actives face tighter regulation and resistance spreads. Non-living microbial derivatives could narrow the performance gap with conventional chemistry, broadening the commercial appeal of biologicals. Tags: [Aphea.Bio](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/aphea-bio/), [Bayer](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/bayer/), [bioinsecticide](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/bioinsecticide/), [biologicals](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/biologicals/), [crop protection](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/crop-protection/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.