ADAMA and BASF Partner to Commercialize Novel Fungicide Gilboa for European Cereal Disease Management
Key Insights
ADAMA (search) and BASF (search) have formed a strategic partnership to co-develop and commercialize Gilboa (search) (flumetylsulforim (search)), a novel fungicide with a unique mode of action targeting nucleic acid metabolism (search) in fungal pathogens.
The collaboration addresses urgent European agricultural needs as regulatory pressures phase out existing active ingredients, offering farmers a new tool to combat disease resistance in cereal crops.
Gilboa (search)-based formulations are planned for launch in Great Britain by 2027 for wheat applications, with broader European market entry scheduled for 2029 pending regulatory approvals.
ADAMA (search) Ltd. and BASF (search) have announced a strategic co-development and commercialization agreement for ADAMA's proprietary fungicide active ingredient, Gilboa (search) (flumetylsulforim (search)), marking a significant advancement in European cereal disease management. The partnership aims to accelerate delivery of innovative solutions to help farmers combat increasing fungal resistance (search) while maintaining crop yields.
Novel Mode of Action Addresses Resistance Challenges
Gilboa (search) represents a breakthrough in fungicide technology, offering a novel mode of action for cereals through its classification in FRAC Group 32 (nucleic acid metabolism (search)), which was recognized earlier this year. The active ingredient provides a versatile platform for developing broad-spectrum, long-lasting disease control solutions that enable growers to secure both yield and quality in their cereal crops.
As Europe faces mounting regulatory pressure and the phase-out of existing active ingredients, farmers urgently need new, effective, and reliable tools to protect crop health and productivity. The increasing mutation of fungal pathogens in European cereal crops demands innovative fungicide solutions to safeguard agricultural production.
Strategic Collaboration Framework
Under the agreement, BASF (search) will develop and commercialize new formulations based on ADAMA (search)'s Gilboa (search) molecule, working alongside ADAMA's own Gilboa-based products. The collaboration combines ADAMA's innovation and mixtures expertise with BASF's strong development capabilities and market access, ensuring farmers benefit from faster access to next-generation solutions.
"Farmers have been clear about their need for reliable, resilient protection against a broad range of diseases," said Florian Wagner, Executive Vice President Portfolio and Innovation at ADAMA (search). "With Gilboa (search), cereal growers in Europe gain a powerful new tool to better protect their crops. We chose to collaborate with BASF (search) because they share our commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability."
Each company will independently decide on its own concepts, pricing, sales and go-to-market strategies, allowing for diverse approaches to product development and commercialization.
Building on Established Partnership
The collaboration builds on a decade-long relationship between BASF (search) and ADAMA (search) across multiple successful projects. Marko Grozdanovic, Senior Vice President Global Strategic Marketing at BASF Agricultural Solutions, emphasized the strategic value of combining both companies' strengths.
"We are combining BASF (search)'s broad portfolio of fungicides and market expertise alongside ADAMA (search)'s innovative active ingredient and product expertise," Grozdanovic said. "This collaboration brings together the unique strengths of both companies, ensuring that farmers benefit from faster access to cutting-edge solutions."
Alex Mills, Head of Global Third Party Relations at ADAMA (search), described the partnership as "a tremendous opportunity for ADAMA and a milestone that many of our teams have been working toward for a long time."
Market Launch Timeline
Pending product registration approvals, the companies plan to launch Gilboa (search)-based formulations for wheat in Great Britain in 2027, followed by broader European launches in 2029. Johannes Weimer, Vice President Global Strategic Marketing Fungicides at BASF (search) Agricultural Solutions, noted that enhancing BASF's fungicide portfolio with Gilboa will help growers benefit sooner from much-needed new solutions to safeguard yields and ensure reliable production.
The timeline reflects the regulatory requirements for new active ingredients in European markets while positioning both companies to address the urgent need for innovative disease management tools in cereal production systems.