BASF Unveils Apthena to Crops from Aphids in the U.K.

In July 2026, BASF unveiled a biological attractant in the U.K. that attracts ladybirds, lacewings, and naturally occurring anti-aphid organisms towards the crops. Apthena has been developed to boost the ecosystem of helpful insects around the crops, which help to protect crops from damaging pests. According to BASF, Apthena could help natural pest repellence and reduce the need for insecticides.

It contains a chemical named (E)-beta-farnesene, which is an alarm odor released when an aphid is disturbed. It signals helpful insects that prey is in the given location and promotes predators and parasitic wasps to come near the crops. Aphids affect farm produce by eating plants and releasing plant viruses. 

According to Professor Tom Pope, applied entomologist at Harper Adams University, biological methods to repel and kill damaging organisms are growing in importance and adoption as the portfolio of effective insecticides is decreasing and resistance among the pests is also increasing. He is of the opinion that using Apthena alongside other biological or chemical treatments can be much more effective than just using Apthena.

According to Richard Corden, the head of solutions and services at BASF Agricultural Solutions U.K. and Ireland, the biological portfolio is a vital component of the company’s strategy. He said that Apthena has been developed to work alongside traditional crop protection, seed techniques, and digital farming tools. The company said that they faced the challenge of the rapid breakdown and volatility of Apthena, which they negated with the encapsulation technology. This technology helps the active ingredient to be slowly and consistently released over a course of 20 to 30 days.

Impact on the Chemical Industry

According to Precedence Research, the launch of Apthena is expected to positively impact the chemical industry as it provides a new innovative method to protect farm produce. This comes at a time when organic farming is gaining traction, and consumers are rapidly adopting organically grown vegetables and fruits. Apthena helps to reduce the use of synthetic insecticides or even completely eliminate them if used alongside other biological crop protection solutions. This helps explain why this product is expected to be widely adopted by farmers who are looking to cater to organic-preference consumers and want to minimize the use of insecticides to protect their crops.

Impact on the Insecticides Market

The global insecticides market size was calculated at USD 22.38 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 23.45 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 38.35 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 5.53% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the launch of Apthena is expected to slow down the demand for insecticides as farmers adopt biological solutions. The adoption of integrated solutions combining both is expected to gain traction, but the growth rate of volume of sales is expected to decrease. This factor affecting the growth rate can actually be negated by climate change and pest resistance, which compel farmers to use more insecticides. There are multiple such factors affecting the market, some positively, some negatively, but overall the market is expected to grow steadily, as in tropical low- to middle-income countries, the adoption of biological solutions is expected to be slow and gradual.

Impact on the Sustainable Agriculture Market

The global sustainable agriculture market size was calculated at USD 24.39 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 27.03 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 68.31 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 10.85% from 2026 to 2035.

According to Precedence Research, the launch of Apthena is expected to benefit the sustainable agriculture market, as there is a growing trend of organic farming and minimizing the use of synthetic chemicals for the protection of crops as well as for nutrition. There is a growing preference among consumers for organically produced fruits and vegetables, and also organic grass-fed animals for meat and dairy. This prompts farmers to adopt farming practices that involve minimal or no use of synthetic insecticides, pesticides, and fertilizers.

About BASF

BASF is a prominent global chemicals company that has a wide range of portfolio that includes plastics, chemicals, performance products, crop protection products, and oil and gas solutions. The company has a rich heritage of advanced research and development prowess to develop pioneering technologies and products as well as efficient and precise manufacturing processes. The company focuses on economic growth as well as environmental and sustainability responsibility. An important part of the company’s goals is the judicious use of natural resources, ensuring holistic nutrition and contributing to improving the quality of life of people. The company places significant impetus to make all its employees feel comfortable and included. Such policies help the employees perform to the best of their abilities, and they can help to keep the talent for a significant duration in the company. It helps to propel the growth of the company in various departments, be it research, manufacturing, marketing, and the legal section.