Syngenta Sells Biologicals Division

Chris Beytes

The latest reports continue to indicate that Syngenta has pulled back from its previous plan to sell its flower and vegetable seed divisions. But that doesn’t apply to all divestitures, as word has come to us that the deal has gone through to sell its Bioline biological controls division. The buyer? InVivo, a large French pest management cooperative. The company will be renamed Bioline Agrosciences.

Bioline Agrosciences will join InVivo’s existing biologicals subsidiary, Biotop, which produces beneficials in France, particularly ephestia eggs for raising other beneficials, as well as trichogramma, a micro-wasp used to combat corn borers.

Bioline specializes in the production and marketing of biological control agents, particularly beneficial insects for fruit, vegetable and flower crops. They have a strong presence in northern Europe.

“By joining forces,” states press information from InVivo, “Bioline and Biotop, a long-standing InVivo subsidiary working in biological pest control, will become a truly global player in a high-potential and fast-growing market.” InVivo estimates the market for “biosolutions” at $2.8 billion, with annual growth of 10% for the next decade.

My friend Ronald Valentin, who joined Syngenta just a couple months ago, will be Technical Lead and Key Accounts Manager for North America. Dan Cahn will stay on as General Manager. They’ll continue to operate out of Oxnard, California, Ron says. GT