Biobest, the sustainable crop management company, has received the Private Equity Award for Growth Company of the Year from the Belgian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (BVA) and BNP Paribas Fortis.

The BVA Private Equity Awards reward and celebrate top-performing Belgian companies backed by private equity or venture capital investors.

Established in 1987, Biobest has become the world leader in natural pollination and biological control of pests and diseases in crops using beneficial insects, mites and micro-organisms. The Biobest Group employs over 2500 people worldwide.

“We’re delighted to have received this award in recognition of the strength of our growth performance,” says Biobest CEO Jean-Marc Vandoorne. “Biobest continues to attract additional capital to leverage further growth. In 2023 we saw our largest funding round to date, clearly demonstrating continuing investor confidence in our Group.”

In 2022, Biobest acquired US Plant Products, one of the most important distributors of integrated biological products in the US and Canada. In July 2023 the company acquired NY-based Bioworks and in September Brazil-based Biotrop, for €532 million, financed via additional capital from both existing and new investors.

“With the strategic acquisitions of BioWorks and Biotrop we have a leading position in the global biopesticides sector and, in the process, have made us the world’s largest pure biologicals crop nutrition and protection company,” says Jean-Marc.