Bayer Expands Global Partnership with M2i Group to Advance Biological Crop Protection
Bayer has strengthened its strategic partnership with M2i Group, a French leader in pheromone-based crop protection, by expanding their collaboration beyond Europe and Africa to now include the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, and the United States. This move marks a significant step forward in the global distribution of sustainable biological crop protection solutions.
A Growing Collaboration: From Europe to the World
In 2023, Bayer and M2i Group entered into a development and distribution agreement that gave Bayer exclusive rights to distribute selected M2i products across Europe and parts of Africa. These products target pests such as lepidoptera and other sucking insects in crops like grapes, tomatoes, and various fruits including stone and pome varieties.
Following the success of this initial partnership, which included the launch of several products across the European and African markets, Bayer and M2i are now expanding the scope of their collaboration. The updated agreement makes Bayer the exclusive distributor of M2i’s pheromone gel-based products in the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the United States.
This global expansion is designed to support farmers worldwide with innovative, low-residue, and sustainable pest control options that reduce environmental impact and meet rising demands for environmentally friendly agricultural solutions.
Delivering on Bayer’s Biologicals Strategy
According to Ralf Glaubitz, Head of Crop Protection Product Team Fungicides, Biologics, and Fruits & Vegetables at Bayer’s Crop Science division, this expansion is aligned with Bayer’s broader strategy to enhance its biologicals portfolio.
“Effective products with low or no residue are an important part of Bayer’s biological portfolio,” Glaubitz said. “Through these strategic partnerships, we are able to broaden the crop protection toolbox, giving farmers more solutions that they can integrate into their operations. We are excited to strengthen our collaboration and further enhance Bayer’s existing biological portfolio.”
Biological crop protection, particularly pheromone-based pest control, is gaining traction as farmers face increasing regulatory pressures and consumer demand for sustainable practices. Bayer’s approach to open innovation plays a key role in this effort, leveraging external expertise and novel technologies to complement its in-house R&D capabilities.
M2i’s Innovative Press Technology
A central feature of the partnership is M2i’s proprietary Press technology, which delivers pheromones in a thick, long-lasting gel. The gel is dispensed directly onto plants from a pressurized, reusable bottle, eliminating the need for plastic applicators or hangers typically used in traditional pheromone deployment systems.
“This technology is a game-changer in terms of sustainability,” said Philippe Guerret, CEO of M2i Group. “The formulation is effective, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly. Plus, by avoiding single-use plastics, we help reduce agricultural waste and simplify application for farmers. We are excited to see such an innovation now distributed on a global scale.”
Beyond the environmental benefits, the Press technology also saves growers time, offers ease of use, and improves pest control outcomes by maintaining pheromone efficacy over longer periods in the field.
Proven Success with VYNYTY Press Products
The success of the partnership is already evident through the launch of the VYNYTY Press product line, which has been rolled out in multiple countries since 2023. These products offer targeted pest control against specific insects, helping reduce the need for chemical insecticides.
- VYNYTY Tuta Press, for example, has seen successful adoption by tomato growers in countries including Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
- In Chile, M2i’s Press technology targeting Lobesia botrana, a key pest in viticulture, has undergone two years of local testing and is now being deployed on both wine and table grapes.
These pheromone-based tools work by disrupting the mating behavior of pests, thereby reducing their populations without harming beneficial insects or leaving harmful residues on crops.
Integrating Digital and Sustainable Solutions
As part of the expanded collaboration, Bayer is integrating M2i’s pheromone products into its wider digital ecosystem for agriculture. This includes pest monitoring tools and precision agriculture technologies that help growers make informed decisions about application timing and pest pressure management.
This systems-based approach allows Bayer to offer farmers a complete suite of solutions that combine digital insights, biological products, and complementary synthetic tools to meet diverse agronomic needs.
Looking Ahead: A Global Vision for Sustainable Agriculture
The global expansion of Bayer’s partnership with M2i Group underscores a shared commitment to advancing sustainable, innovative crop protection solutions. By scaling the reach of pheromone-based technologies and integrating them into holistic farming systems, the companies aim to support farmers in managing pest pressures more effectively while protecting the environment and responding to consumer demand for residue-free produce.
As the world faces mounting challenges in food production, climate change, and biodiversity loss, partnerships like this one represent a meaningful step toward more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices worldwide.
About M2i Group
Founded in 2012, M2i is a 100% French industrial group, expert in the synthesis, formulation and production of complex molecules for life sciences. Thanks to its research laboratory associated with its and its manufacturing center all based in France, M2i designs, develops and produces organic molecules with high added value for life sciences and organic farming. I
t has become the European leader in biological protection of plants and crops by conceiving eco-responsible products today sold in 65 countries and in this title, M2i has received 31 awards in 10 years. M2i, which has multiplied by 6 its workforce in 8 years, employs 185 people, including more than a quarter in R&D, and holds 35 patent families protecting its technology and innovative product lines and has 80 Marketing Authorisations (MA) worldwide.
For more information: www.m2i-group.fr
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses.
At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
