News

AgroSpheres and BASF Announce Major Strategic Partnership

AgroSpheres, a biotechnology leader in sustainable crop protection and crop health, and BASF, a global leader in agricultural solutions, are excited to announce their strategic partnership on a category defining novel bioinsecticide. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in sustainable agriculture solutions aimed at enhancing crop protection.

The companies are working together to develop biological crop protection products leveraging AgroSpheres AgriCell-powered biomolecules. Both companies are encouraged by the levels of efficacy that have been demonstrated at low dose rates to control key agricultural lepidopteran pests. Both companies are committed to working together to develop innovative and sustainable crop protection products that will increase the choices available to farmers to manage pests and support optimal productivity.

Payam Pourtaheri, CoFounder and CEO of AgroSpheres, stated, “Our partnership with BASF exemplifies the synergy that can be achieved when innovative biotech meets extensive agricultural expertise. The results of our bioinsecticide development are extremely promising, and we are eager to continue our work together to bring effective solutions to farmers worldwide.”

Ameer Shakeel, CoFounder and CTO of AgroSpheres, added, “This collaboration is a testament to our team’s ability to develop novel biomolecules, amplify them with the AgriCell and forge strategic partnerships to reach farmers around the world. We are proud to partner with BASF and are excited about the potential impact of our partnership.”

Both companies are committed to furthering their research and development efforts, with plans to accelerate the development of this product line and launch a pipeline powered by the AgriCell.

Stephanie Jensen, Vice President, Crop System Rice and Portfolio Solutions Insecticides and Seed Treatment, BASF Agricultural Solutions, concluded, “We are incredibly encouraged by the results we’ve achieved thus far and by the potential impact for our customers from this innovative technology. Moving forward, our focus remains on delivering a bioinsecticide that adds genuine value for farmers, promoting higher yields and healthier crops.”

Stefan Tresch, Head of New Technologies & BioSolutions at BASF Agricultural Solutions, remarked, “BASF is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that provide added benefit to our agricultural customers, and we believe in the unique value represented by the AgriCell platform. AgroSpheres has showcased some of the most promising biomolecules we’ve encountered. Our collaboration with AgroSpheres is a testament to the power of partnerships in driving innovation.”

Both AgroSpheres and BASF are dedicated to fostering a sustainable agricultural ecosystem, and this partnership is a crucial step in that journey.

 

Learn more here.

Recent News

03/27/2026

CvilleBioHub Appoints Nikki Hastings as President, Marking New Phase of Growth and Regional Leadership

CvilleBioHub today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Nikki Hastings as President, recognizing her leadership in building the organization into a cornerstone of Central Virginia’s life sciences ecosystem and positioning it for continued growth and influence. The appointment comes as CvilleBioHub prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary and marks one year since the

03/25/2026

Grenova Appoints New Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Phase of Growth Across Global Automation Platform

Grenova today announced the appointment of Ted Hull as Chief Executive Officer. Hull will lead Grenova and its automation divisions, Peak Robotics and Peak Analysis & Automation (PAA), guiding the organization through its next phase of growth as a global platform delivering automation-ready solutions to laboratories world-wide. Grenova and its division partners are backed by

03/25/2026

Virginia Startups Raise Record $2.9 Billion in Venture Capital Investment in 2025 – Highest in Commonwealth History

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corp. (VIPC) today announced that the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) reported Virginia attracted $2.9 billion in venture capital investment in 2025, marking an all-time high for the Commonwealth according to the 2025 Q4 Pitchbook-NVCA Venture Monitor Report.1 This record level of investment reflects the continued growth and momentum of Virginia’s startup