AgBiTech Australia

What AgBiTech Australia does

AgBiTech Australia is a biological crop protection company founded in 2000 that develops and manufactures baculovirus-based insecticides and related products for controlling caterpillar pests (primarily Helicoverpa spp. and Fall Armyworm) in agricultural crops. Its core technology uses naturally occurring Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses (NPV) produced through proprietary in vivo mass-rearing processes and multi-step automated manufacturing at food-grade facilities in Australia, the United States (Fort Worth), and Brazil. The product portfolio consists of five core offerings: ViVUS Max (broadacre Helicoverpa control), ViVUS Armigen (higher-concentration horticulture formulation), Fawligen (Fall Armyworm biocontrol), Magnet (a plant volatile-based attract-and-kill system for adult moths), and Optimol (an adjuvant that enhances the performance of the baculovirus products).

The company serves broadacre crop producers (cotton, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, sorghum), horticultural growers, organic producers, and Fall Armyworm-affected growers across Australia, the United States, Brazil, and Asia. AgBiTech generates revenue through direct product sales to farmers, sales through an accredited agent network for certain products like ViVUS Armigen, and per-hectare compliance-based pricing for its Magnet product under Bayer's Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan. As of March 31, 2026, AgBiTech became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BASF Agricultural Solutions following its acquisition from private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners, a transaction expected to accelerate global scaling of its biological solutions portfolio, particularly leveraging BASF's established presence in Brazil and other key agricultural markets.

Name

AgBiTech Australia

Legal name

AgBiTech Pty Ltd

Website

https://agbitech.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AgBiTech Australia develops and manufactures baculovirus-based biological insecticides and attract-and-kill products for controlling caterpillar pests in broadacre crops, horticulture, and organic farming operations across Australia, the United States, Brazil, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biological Crop Protection

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (325320)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Biological Pest Control (Beneficial Insects, Nematodes, Microbials) (AFABAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Insecticides (AFABAAAB), Pest Control Product Supply (Fumigants, Traps, Lures, Applicator Equipment) (AFAOAIAN)

Keywords

• Biological insecticides
• Baculovirus pest control
• Crop protection
• Integrated pest management
• Agricultural biologicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Toowoomba

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biological Crop Protection Products: AgBiTech develops and manufactures biological insecticides for controlling caterpillar pests in agricultural crops. Products are sold directly to farmers and through accredited agents/distributors. The company operates purpose-built manufacturing plants in Australia and USA using food-grade standards. Revenue is generated through product sales across multiple crop segments including broadacre grains, cotton, and horticulture.
2. Magnet Bollgard 3 RMP Program: Magnet is offered as a compliance option for Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan, charged on a flat per-hectare basis regardless of actual volume consumed. Three aerial applications are required between February 10 and March 1, 2026. Growers opt in through Bayer's MTrack system, with early commitment discounts available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AgBiTech develops and manufactures baculovirus-based biological insecticides that selectively target Helicoverpa and Fall Armyworm larvae in broadacre and horticultural crops. Its product portfolio includes ViVUS MAX and ViVUS ARMIGEN (NPV-based insecticides), FAWLIGEN (Fall Armyworm control under APVMA Emergency Use Permit), MAGNET (plant-volatile attract-and-kill technology for adult moths), and OPTIMOL (performance-enhancing adjuvant). Production uses a proprietary in vivo process involving mass-rearing of insects and automated multi-step manufacturing under food-grade quality standards, with registered trademarks ViVUS, FAWLIGEN, MAGNET and OPTIMOL.

Product overview

AgBiTech Australia is a biological crop protection company that develops and manufactures products using naturally occurring baculoviruses and other biological control mechanisms to selectively target insect pests. The product portfolio centers on five core offerings: ViVUS MAX (broadacre baculovirus insecticide for Helicoverpa control), ViVUS ARMIGEN (higher-concentration formulation for horticulture), FAWLIGEN (Fall Armyworm biocontrol), MAGNET (plant volatile-based moth attractant/kill system), and OPTIMOL (adjuvant to enhance ViVUS product performance). The ViVUS products function as the core biological insecticides, while MAGNET serves as a complementary adult moth control tool that can be used alongside ViVUS or independently, and OPTIMOL acts as a performance enhancer for the ViVUS products under challenging conditions. All products are designed for use in Integrated Pest Management systems and are certified for organic production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ViVUS MAX: Biological insecticide for the control of Helicoverpa spp. larvae - a baculovirus-based biological control product for broadacre crops
• ViVUS ARMIGEN
• FAWLIGEN
• MAGNET
• OPTIMOL

Products and services

• ViVUS MAX Baculovirus-based biological insecticide for the control of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera larvae (cotton bollworm, corn earworm, tomato fruitworm) in broadacre crops including cereal grains, Lucerne, oilseeds, potatoes, pulses, cotton, sweet corn, berry fruit, brassica vegetables, celery, cucurbits, fruiting vegetables, leafy vegetables, legume vegetables, ornamental flowers and plants, and pome fruit. Delivers 60-90% control with no post-harvest interval and no impact on beneficials.
• ViVUS ARMIGEN Higher-concentration baculovirus-based biological insecticide specifically designed for horticultural crops, formulated with Australian and USA isolates of Helicoverpa armigera NPV for faster kill and improved field performance against Australian Helicoverpa species. Highly specific to Helicoverpa and Heliothis, with nil withholding period and re-entry when dry, and no impact on beneficial species.
• FAWLIGEN Baculovirus-selective biological insecticide for the control and management of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae. Holds Australian Certified Organic (ACO) approval and an APVMA Emergency Use Permit, and is primarily effective against 1st and 2nd instar larvae with no impact on other species.
• MAGNET Unique blend of 6 plant volatiles and feeding stimulants that mimics nectar-rich flower odors to attract and kill adult Helicoverpa moths before they can lay eggs. Applied to less than 2% of crop area, providing 4-6 days of moth control with up to 90% reduction in moth numbers and up to 90% reduction in egg lay, with nil or negligible impact on beneficial species. Available in 20L, 200L and 1000L formats.
• MAGNET for Bollgard 3 RMP Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) compliance program using MAGNET insect attractant as an approved 'Attract and Kill' alternative to mechanical pupae destruction. Three aerial applications between February 10 and March 1 remove moths before they lay eggs that would become overwintering larvae, ensuring compliance even when soil is too wet to cultivate. Administered through Bayer's MTrack system, with growers opting in via Technology Service Providers (TSPs) on a flat per-hectare basis.
• OPTIMOL Molasses and crop oil-based adjuvant designed to enhance the performance of ViVUS Max, ViVUS Armigen and Fawligen. Improves spray coverage, reduces droplet evaporation, improves droplet adherence, provides UV protection for baculovirus, and increases initial larval infectivity. Particularly effective in hot/dry conditions, cool conditions, high UV light, high larval numbers, and low-volume aerial application.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-90% control of Helicoverpa larvae depending on coverage, environmental conditions, and larvae size
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bayer Crop SciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationMagnet insect attractant is integrated into Bayer's Bollgard 3 Resistance Management Plan (RMP) as an approved 'Attract and Kill' alternative to mechanical pupae control. The administration is fully integrated into Bayer's MTrack system. Growers opt in through Technology Service Providers (TSPs) using Bayer's online system. Three aerial applications between February 10 and March 1 are required for RMP compliance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Certis Biologicals (Certis Belchim): Specialist biopesticide manufacturer offering baculovirus and microbial products for caterpillar and other pest control across row crops and horticulture. Directly comparable to AgBiTech in product modality, target pests, and IPM positioning.
• Andermatt Biocontrol: Global leader in baculovirus-based biological insecticides (e.g., Helicovex, Littovir) and other biological control agents. Closest direct competitor to AgBiTech's ViVUS and Fawligen product lines.
• Koppert Biological Systems: Major biological control company offering microbial pesticides, beneficial insects, and IPM solutions across horticulture and broadacre crops. Comparable to AgBiTech in biological control modality and global distribution.
• Marrone Bio Innovations (now BioSafe Systems / part of Bioceres ecosystem): Develops and markets microbial-based crop protection products. Comparable in biopesticide focus, regulatory approach, and broadacre/horticulture go-to-market.
• Vestaron: Peptide and biological insecticide company targeting lepidopteran pests in specialty and row crops. Comparable as a developer of novel biological modes of action for Helicoverpa-like pests.
• BioWorks: Biological crop protection and pest management company offering microbial insecticides and fungicides. Comparable in biological pest control product positioning and grower-channel distribution.
• AgBiome: Microbial crop protection developer using a proprietary microbial discovery platform to develop biopesticides and biostimulants. Comparable in biological pest control modality and crop input market focus.

Broad incumbents

• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Parent company of AgBiTech post-March 2026 acquisition, and one of the largest global agrochemical players. Comparable as a broad agricultural inputs incumbent with a growing biologicals portfolio.
• Syngenta Biologicals: Global ag-input major with a dedicated biologicals business offering biostimulants, biocontrol, and biopesticides. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating an adjacent biologicals portfolio.
• Corteva Agriscience: Major seed and crop protection company with biologicals offerings through its Bioceres alliance and in-house programs. Comparable as a large incumbent in adjacent biological crop protection space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agbitech-australia

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AgBiTech Australia