BASF Secures First EU Registration for its Biological Fungicide Integral® Pro on Sunflower in France

25 November 2025, Germany: BASF has announced that Integral® Pro, its biological fungicide seed treatment, has received official registration in France for use on sunflower. From the 2026 sowing season onwards, sunflower growers across the European Union will have access to this solution designed to protect seeds from seed- and soil-borne fungal diseases, strengthening early crop development and long-term productivity. The approval marks a significant expansion for the product, which has already been widely adopted in oilseed rape since 2018.

Pierre Lopez, Seed Treatment Portfolio Manager at BASF Agricultural Solutions, noted that Integral Pro has protected several million hectares of oilseed rape annually across Europe and that robust trial data now confirm its efficacy in sunflower. He said the biological fungicide demonstrated reliable protection against key pathogens such as Alternaria, Phoma and Botrytis, leading to its first registration in this crop. According to Lopez, the addition of Integral Pro offers seed companies and growers a new biological solution to support sunflower resilience and yield performance.

Biological Mode of Action Driving Crop Resilience

Integral Pro is powered by the beneficial bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBI600. Applied as a flowable concentrate, it colonizes the seed surface and emerging rootlet within days of sowing, forming a protective biological shield against early infections. The bacterium not only occupies space that would otherwise be vulnerable to harmful fungi but also produces natural antifungal compounds that disrupt pathogen development. This dual action ensures early-season fungicidal protection and supports seedlings in achieving their full genetic potential.

Field trials conducted across the EU between 2022 and 2024 have reinforced the product’s value, showing effective suppression of Alternaria and Phoma, proven activity against Botrytis, improved emergence and vigor, stronger root architecture and an average yield benefit of 3.5 dt/ha compared to untreated seeds.

Ludovic Grosjean, Seed Treatment Agronomist at BASF Agricultural Solutions, emphasised that early protection has become critical for modern farming systems. He explained that growers continue to face pressure from pests, diseases and environmental variability, and that Integral Pro brings together biological protection, early growth support and consistent vigor to help secure harvest outcomes from the very beginning.

Meeting Market Expectations for Sustainable Seed Treatment

As part of BASF’s BioSolutions portfolio, Integral Pro aligns with evolving regulatory, environmental and market expectations. The treatment is compatible with standard sunflower seed treatment programmes and can be integrated into organic production systems, offering growers a natural and sustainable partner as they work to protect yield potential while meeting societal and environmental demands.

Also Read: Punjab’s Water Crisis: Experts Say Hybrid Seeds Are the Only Sustainable Solution

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