60  / SEEDWORLD.COM  INTERNATIONAL EDITION 2026
BIOLOGICAL SEED TREATMENTS 
are rapidly reshaping how the global 
seed sector approaches crop resilience, 
sustainability and regulatory change. As 
pressure mounts on conventional chem­
istries and growers face increasingly 
unpredictable conditions, biologicals are 
emerging as vital tools that complement 
and, in some cases, enhance the perfor­
mance of traditional seed treatments. 
The Growing Role of Biological Seed 
Treatments in Modern Agriculture
Across seed innovation centers world­
wide, biologicals are steadily moving 
from experimental additions to essential 
components of modern seed treat­
ment strategies. Their appeal lies not in 
replacing conventional chemistries but in 
expanding what seed-applied solutions 
can deliver, especially as growers contend 
with more frequent climate extremes and 
tighter regulatory expectations.
At BASF, this trend is reflected in how 
Biological Seed Treatments Unlock 
New Value for Sustainable Agriculture
A deep dive into innovation, regulation, technical challenges and farmer adoption as 
the global biologicals market accelerates. By Marcel Bruins, Seed World Europe Editorial Director
biologicals are positioned within treat­
ment packages. Rob Gaffney, BASF 
director global marketing seed treat­
ments – global key accounts, explains 
that these products enhance root devel­
opment, nutrient uptake and stress 
tolerance, complementing rather than 
competing with traditional tools. This 
integrated approach aligns with growers’ 
growing interest in resilience and sustain­
ability.
A similar evolution is evident at 
Corteva Agriscience. Biologicals are 
becoming more than an optional add-on; 
they increasingly serve as integral com­
ponents of broader agronomic systems. 
Christine Hazel, Corteva’s global regula­
tory lead – Seed Applied Technology, 
notes that these seed-applied biologicals 
support both sustainability goals and inte­
grated pest management, making them 
important in regions where environmental 
stewardship is becoming a key decision 
factor for farmers.
The shift is just as pronounced at 
Bayer, where biologicals are woven into a 
much larger tapestry of innovation. Rather 
than viewing products in isolation, the 
company focuses on complete solutions. 
According to Steve Bäsel, senior regula­
tory policy manager at Bayer, growers are 
combining traditional chemistries, biologi­
cals, seed germplasm and digital insights 
to create holistic, performance-driven 
systems. Biologicals, he adds, also con­
tribute meaningfully to soil health-related 
sustainability.
At Incotec, the expanding toolbox 
of biologicals is reshaping seed treat­
ment practices in multiple directions. 
Biofertilizers once used primarily in leg­
umes are now steadily moving into crops 
like corn, while biostimulants fit naturally 
into existing seed treatment stacks. Rob 
Pronk, global marketing manager and 
global regulatory manager at Incotec, 
notes that biopesticides can either com­
plement conventional treatments or in 
Soybean and corn seed treated with both 
chemical and biological seed treatments 
Poncho Votivo. SOURCE: BASF

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