BASF announces Integral^® Pro for Sunflowers is registered in France

• Next-generation fungicide seed treatment for sunflower growers, available EU-wide from 2026
• Integral Pro^®, as part of BASF’s BioSolutions portfolio, is a sunflower fungicide seed treatment that shields seeds and fosters growth
   

BASF announces that Integral^® Pro, an innovative fungicide seed treatment, has received official registration in France for use on sunflower.  Beginning with the 2026 sowing season, sunflower growers based in the European Union will have access to this solution, helping to prevent seed-and soil-born fungal diseases. Integral Pro offers growers a reliable and sustainable way to safeguard yield potential and crop resilience.

“Since 2018, Integral Pro has protected several millions of hectares of oilseed rape every year across Europe,“ said Pierre Lopez, Seed Treatment Portfolio Manager at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Robust technical results in sunflower demonstrate effective protection against key fungal diseases such as Alternaria, Phoma and Botrytis. This success has led us to our first registration for use in sunflower. We are proud to provide seed companies and growers with a new seed treatment solution that supports sunflower production.“
 

Science at the Core: How Integral Pro Works

Integral Pro harnesses the power of the beneficial bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBI600. Applied as a flowable concentrate, it rapidly colonizes the seed and rootlet, forming a biological shield within days of sowing.

But MBI600 does not only block pathogens thanks to its colonization capacity. It also produces natural antifungal compounds, which disrupt the life cycle of harmful fungi and limit their impact. This double mode of action allows fungicide protection from seedling stage, supporting the sunflower plants to reach their full genetic potential.

Field trials conducted across the EU from 2022 to 2024 have shown that Integral Pro delivers:

• Excellent control of Alternaria and Phoma for reliable disease protection
• Proven efficacy against Botrytis, safeguarding early crop development
• Enhanced emergence and vigor for healthier, more productive crops
• Healthier root development for resilience under variable conditions
• Yield increase: observed average of +3.5 dt/hectare¹ compared to untreated seeds

“At BASF, we see the constant challenges growers face and are here to help them reduce pressure from pests and diseases, as soon as the seeds are planted,” said Ludovic Grosjean, Seed Treatment Agronomist at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “Integral Pro helps plants handle biotic stress and still deliver at harvest. It’s the combination of protection, early growth, and healthy vigor that gives farmers confidence their fields are on track.”

Modern growers face evolving regulations, societal expectations, and environmental responsibilities. As part of BASF’s BioSolutions Portfolio, Integral Pro is purpose-built to address these demands, offering seamless integration with standard sunflower seed treatments and suitability for organic production systems, serving as a natural partner for growers.

¹ dt/ha is a measure of yield, expressing how many decitons (10-kg units) of a crop are produced per hectare of land.
 

About BASF Agricultural Solutions

Everything we do, we do for the love of farming. Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population, while reducing environmental impacts. That’s why we are working with partners and experts to integrate sustainability criteria into all business decisions. With €919 million in 2024, we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, combining innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our solutions are purpose-designed for different crop systems. Connecting seeds and traits, crop protection products, digital tools and sustainability approaches, to help deliver the best possible outcomes for farmers, growers and our other stakeholders along the value chain. With teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we do everything in our power to build a sustainable future for agriculture. In 2024, our division generated sales of €9.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.agriculture.basf.com or our social media channels.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at basf.com.