{
    "title": "Ghent biotech firm Aphea.Bio partners with Bayer to develop biological insecticides",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-10 16:00:45",
    "published_at": "2026-06-10 16:00:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ghent-biotech-firm-apheabio-partners-with-bayer-to-develop-biological-insecticides",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/b2Id",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "ghent-biotech-firm-apheabio-partners-with-bayer-to-develop-biological-insecticides",
    "body": "<p><strong>The Ghent-based crop protection company Aphea.Bio has entered into a strategic partnership with the German group Bayer to develop biological pesticides targeting insect pests in agriculture. Aphea.Bio, a spin-off of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, Ghent University and KU Leuven, announced the deal on Wednesday.</strong></p><p>The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of bio-insecticides against sap-sucking insects such as aphids and thrips, which cause severe economic damage in agriculture. The two companies say the goal is to &quot;expand the crop protection toolbox for growers.&quot;</p><p>Aphea.Bio is contributing its R&amp;D pipeline, while Bayer brings its global market reach and capacity for large-scale product development and commercialisation. The partnership will initially focus on fruit crops such as citrus and grapes, with vegetables and arable crops including cotton and soya potentially added at a later stage.</p><p>&quot;Bayer&#039;s decision to collaborate with us reflects confidence in our team&#039;s ability in developing high-quality bioinsecticide leads, while they bring the capability to take these solutions to millions of farmers,&quot; said Isabel Vercauteren, CEO of Aphea.Bio. &quot;Together, we can deliver crop protection that actually works on a global scale, addressing pests that currently have few effective options&quot;</p><p>The deal reflects a broader trend in the agricultural sector towards nature-based crop protection, as major companies face regulatory pressure on conventional chemical products and seek to invest in biological alternatives.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sup>#FlandersNewsService | PHOTO &copy; JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-40aa92c7-950f-4b55-b209-172a24126454\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ghent-based-biotech-company-biotalys-cuts-jobs-and-research-projects-to-save-money\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fc4cd76ca-68bc-42ad-8793-cec0d65402a0%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=a92d37dd511d5b308f120f115bc7e529)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ghent-based-biotech-company-biotalys-cuts-jobs-and-research-projects-to-save-money\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"40aa92c7-950f-4b55-b209-172a24126454\"\n           >\n                Ghent biotech company Biotalys cuts jobs and research projects to save money            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                At the Ghent-based biotech company Biotalys, which develops biological crop protection products, 30 employees are at risk of losing their jobs...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fghent-based-biotech-company-biotalys-cuts-jobs-and-research-projects-to-save-money&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n",
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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Ghent biotech company Biotalys cuts jobs and research projects to save money",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ghent-based-biotech-company-biotalys-cuts-jobs-and-research-projects-to-save-money"
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    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
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