At the 6th BioAgTech World Congress (BAW) in New Delhi, some of the biggest names in BioAg sat down for a rare, honest conversation. Behind closed doors, leaders from Syngenta, Corteva, UPL’s Natural Plant Protection (NPP), VEGANIC® and Bayer, trailblazing biological champs shared their stories, challenges and hopes for the future of biological crop protection. What emerged was a clear call for change—not just in products, but in mindset. This whitepaper captures their voices, lessons and visions shared to spark collaboration and real progress in biocontrol.

WHY BIOLOGICALS MATTER NOW MORE THAN EVER?

Biologicals have come a long way from niche products to a must alternative in crop protection. Farmers, regulators and consumers are all pushing in the same direction: toward food that is safer, cleaner and grown sustainably. However, shifting massive agrochemical companies toward a new way of thinking is not easy. The panelists at the BAW Congress spoke candidly about the internal hurdles, whether in sales, research or company culture, that make the transition difficult.

The urgency to farm sustainably has never been clearer. As consumer expectations evolve, export markets tighten residue norms and regulators push for eco-friendly inputs, biologicals are emerging as a necessary piece of the agricultural puzzle, not just a “nice to have.” Yet, integrating them into mainstream agribusiness models remains a real challenge. Rather than a platform for self-promotion, the roundtable functioned as a critical lens on the industry illuminating both the internal challenges and the systemic barriers that hinder the full realization of biologicals’ promise.

CULTURE: THE REAL BATTLEGROUND

Acquiring a BioAg company is one thing. Keeping its essence alive within a multinational framework is a different battle. Antonio Zem, chair of the session, and Carlos Ledó shared candid perspectives on how culture clashes can erode the very innovation MNCs aim to harness the full potential of integration.

Antonio recalled how Biotrop deliberately turned down a multinational acquisition offer. “We did not want to be swallowed. We wanted to grow with our identity intact,” he said. Prameet Kamat from Corteva highlighted the opposite: a strategy to protect the DNA of the acquired companies. “We do not integrate to assimilate; we integrate to elevate,” he explained. Post-acquisition, Corteva invested in learning from Stoller and Symborg—absorbing their agility and focus rather than overwriting it.

THE SALES FORCE LITMUS TEST

Selling biologicals is not just about new products. It is about new stories, new science and new habits, which means retraining the people on the ground. Zem put it bluntly: “A representative who does not believe in biologicals will not even take the sample out of the car.”

At UPL, Emilie Seguret shared how their internal “Go Bio” movement turned every employee into a BioAg ambassador. From digital training tools to the NPP Academy, they are building belief from the inside out. Corteva took a different route. Instead of splitting their salesforce, they doubled down on training the one they had and making sure trusted reps could speak confidently about both chemicals and biologicals. Continuity, they said, builds credibility.

STRATEGY SHIFT: FROM ADD-ON TO ANCHOR

Biologicals are no longer just a green add-on. They are starting to anchor whole crop programs. Simon Wiebusch from Bayer admitted they underestimated the complexity of integrating AgraQuest’s products. “The fit was not instant,” he said. “But we have learned. India taught us how powerful biologicals can be when residue requirements and farmer economics align.”

Syngenta brought a holistic take: biologicals are not just for pests, but for boosting plant health under all kinds of stress. One panelist summed it up beautifully: It is like Ayurveda meets Allopathy. It is not one or the other. Rather, it is both, done wisely.

FARMER FIRST: THE TRUE CUSTOMER TEST

The best strategy in the boardroom means nothing if farmers do not see results in their fields. NPP’s Pronotiva program is showing the way by pairing biologicals with conventional products to create complete, performance-driven solutions. It is not about preaching green. It is about proving results.

Real-world results, farmer-centric trials and practical support were recurring themes across the panel. Trust is not won in a pitch deck; it is earned season after season.

COLLABORATION AT SPEED AND SCALE

Roger Tripathi closed the roundtable with a powerful insight: the biologicals movement does not need more silos. It needs synergy. Startups bring innovation and speed. Multinationals bring reach and systems. “We have got to stop framing this as chemical vs. biological,” he said. “It is about minimizing the chemical load and integrating biologicals with intelligence and care.”

Everyone around the table agreed: the future is not binary. It is integrated. Those who can co-create, co-adapt and move quickly will define the next era of crop protection.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The MNC Leaders Roundtable at BAW 2025 offered a deep insight into the biologicals movement. It revealed a tough truth: transforming agriculture is not just about technology. It is about trust, belief and shared direction. It is not just about strategy, but changing the culture.

There is no shortcut to credibility. But with thoughtful culture integration, empowered sales teams, farmer validation and fast-moving partnerships, the dream of making biologicals a core part of global agriculture is already underway.