How Biologicals Are Changing the Game for More Agribusiness Giants

As global agriculture faces mounting pressure to become more sustainable, biologicals are emerging as critical tools in the modern grower’s toolkit. Major agribusinesses like Syngenta and Corteva, once synonymous with synthetic crop protection, have led the charge to integrate biologicals into their portfolios—but how is it working out?

This shift is not just about product diversification. It’s a fundamental transformation in how companies develop, sell, and support crop solutions.

Tank Mix 2.0: Why Agrochemical Giants Are Pairing Biology with Tradition

For decades, crop protection was dominated by synthetic chemicals. Today, companies are rethinking that model by combining biologicals with traditional chemistries to enhance plant health, resilience, and yield.

Syngenta learned early on that marketing biologicals required a different approach than synthetics. After acquiring Valagro, a leading biostimulant company, Syngenta discovered that demonstrating the value of biologicals demands more nuanced, in-season engagement.

“The effects of plant biostimulants may affect many plant processes that may be more nuanced and require field visits at the appropriate times to demonstrate,” says Joe Ben Bogle, Seedcare and Biologicals Lead at Syngenta.

This insight led to the creation of a local Biological Specialist support model to provide hands-on guidance and conduct on-farm trials.

Corteva, which has invested $1.5 billion in biologicals acquisitions, also emphasizes integration. Rather than replacing chemistry, Corteva positions biologicals as complementary tools.

“We believe that biologicals will not replace synthetic chemistry,” says Brooks Coetzee, Business Partner for Corteva. “By combining these comprehensive solutions, we offer a way to enhance plant health and productivity.”

However, integration does not come without challenges. The Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), which supports smallholder farmers through its PlantwisePlus program, highlights that biologicals often have unique issues to manage, including limited shelf life, regulatory hurdles, and perceived lower efficacy.

“The most prominent barriers… revolve around an informational and a policy component,” says Dr. Robert Malek, Pesticide Risk Reduction Expert at CABI.

Farmers need education and technical support to adopt these knowledge-intensive tools effectively.

For more on biofertilizers, click here to continue reading the full article as part of our special report on Integrating Biologicals.