Biobest opens new state-of-the-art facility and changes its name

Added on 01 May 2024

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Biobest opens new state-of-the-art facility and changes its name

Photo: BioFirst Group

David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs and Agriculture, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Renewal and Jo Brouns – Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture joined forces on 4 April to officially open Biobest’s new cutting-edge, predatory mite production facility in Westerlo. The opening also provided the perfect opportunity to reveal the company’s new name, BioFirst Group, and its structure and logo.

Established in Belgium over 37 years ago, today the group employs over 2,800 people worldwide, working with growers and farmers in over 70 countries.

A key component of its growing portfolio of biological crop protection and crop health products, predatory mites are deployed by growers worldwide to control economically important pests and play a central role in the ecologically-sound production of high yielding, healthy crops. These tiny natural predators help to minimise chemical pesticide usage and satisfy societal demands for healthier, residue-free crops.

“Our €12million investment in this new state-of-the-art, 4000sqm mite-rearing facility will greatly boost our production capabilities and house up to 50 employees,” said Biobest Group CEO Jean-Marc Vandoorne. “Thanks to our highly skilled teams and our pioneering mass-rearing techniques for mites, this new facility stands at the forefront of biocontrol innovation. It enables us to scale up production to enhance our ability to fulfil customer demands.”