Bayer aims to launch first bioinsecticide for arable crops

The new bioinsecticide has potential for use against coleoptera insects like the cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), a pest insect that can damage oilseed rape crops throughout the growing season and even cause seedling death. The beetle is widespread in the United Kingdom and throughout much of Europe. Damage caused by adult CSFB feeding gives rise to ‘shot-holing’ symptoms which affect young plants and early leaves, resulting in stunted growth and poor plant health.

Bayer mentions that many biological options are available for high-value vegetable and horticulture crops, where their cost can be offset by consumer-supported price premiums. Arable crops require solutions that can be applied cost-effectively at larger scale in order to be competitive. Bayer’s approach combines various solutions to maximize the cost efficiencies of this new product by including it in a digitally-supported integrated pest management system.

Outgrow the market

According to Benoit Hartmann, Head of Biologics at Bayer’s Crop Science Division, biocontrols are a perfect for scaling regenerative agriculture. The new product is a new biological crop protection option to farmers that can be used for arable crops. “We see major growth potential for biological crop protections like this one”, said Ralf Glaubitz, Head of Global Asset Management for Seed Growth & Biologics at Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “We’re working to outgrow the market and achieve more than 1.5 billion euro in biological sales by 2035. That’s only going to happen if we innovate to solve the challenges that farmers face in all fields.”

AlphaBio Control provides farmers and growers with solutions for each stage of the crop production cycle, thereby improving agriculture and horticulture one spray at a time. Its first product was the award winning bioinsecticide-acaricide, Flipper®.