The Belgian agricultural biotechnology firm BioFirst, the parent company of Biobest specializing in biological pest control and crop pollination, announced on Monday, September 14, that it has reached an agreement to increase its stake in Biobest Maroc from 50% to 100%. This acquisition, which is subject to approval by the Competition Council, will allow Biobest to assume exclusive control over the Moroccan company that produces beneficial organisms in the province of Chtouka-Aït Baha, located south of Agadir.
This transaction pertains to the remaining equity and voting rights that BioFirst did not previously hold in this Moroccan limited liability company, which has a share capital of 2.65 million dirhams. The deal marks a significant shift, granting Biobest exclusive operational authority over a site that was previously managed as a joint venture. Although BioFirst did not disclose the price of the acquisition or the identity of the seller, it confirmed that the Moroccan commercial entity will continue its operations without any changes. The necessary documentation was submitted to the Competition Council shortly before the announcement.
Jean-Marc Vandoorne, the CEO of BioFirst, characterized the transaction as "a significant step in strengthening Biobest's presence in Morocco and throughout the region," asserting that "having full control over our production operations reinforces our commitment to providing high-quality biological solutions to producers and expanding our industrial footprint in the area."
Biobest Maroc: A Legacy of Collaboration
Founded in 1998 as a joint venture between Biobest and the Azura Group, a major producer of tomatoes and herbs, Biobest Maroc is strategically located at kilometer 39 on the Tiznit road in Tin Mansour. The facility specializes in raising bumblebees for greenhouse crop pollination, cultivating predatory mites, and other beneficial insects used to combat pests. It serves both the Moroccan market and the international network of Biobest, demonstrating its integral role within the company's global production framework.
In April 2018, Biobest inaugurated a 2,000 square meter vertical production unit equipped with climate-controlled chambers, representing an investment of 1.2 million euros aimed at enhancing its global production capacity for pest control agents, particularly focusing on the voracious aphid predator, _Aphidoletes aphidimyza_. Karim Jerate, the then-CEO of Biobest Maroc, highlighted that this investment underscored "the important role of Biobest Maroc in Biobest's global production network."
This acquisition marks a continuation of BioFirst's strategic initiative to buy out partners' shares in various joint ventures, including the Turkish subsidiary Biobest Antalya, which is now fully under its control. The demand for beneficial insects is on the rise among Moroccan producers of tomatoes, peppers, small fruits, and citrus, who are facing stricter regulations on the use of chemical pesticides, especially for crops destined for the European Union.
As reported by barlamane.com.
