BASF brings a new era of fruits and vegetables protection to Indonesia with the launch of its novel Efficon® Insecticide.
- Powered by Axalion® Active, an insecticide to support farmers in controlling mealybugs and scale pests
- Registered under IRAC group 36, this offers a unique class of chemistry which helps farmers protect fruit yield, reduce crop losses, and maintain plant health
North Sumatra, Indonesia, September 16, 2025 — BASF today announced the launch of Efficon® Insecticide in Indonesia, marking the first introduction of this chemistry in Southeast Asia. The launch event, attended by 100 stakeholders from across the agricultural sector, underscores BASF’s commitment to empowering Indonesian farmers as this marks the second crop protection innovation that has been launched this third quarter of 2025.
Efficon is powered by Axalion® Active, a breakthrough novel chemistry developed by BASF that targets chordotonal organs in piercing and sucking pests. It offers effective control of key pests of mealybugs, scale insects, and whiteflies, some of the most persistent threats to crops like citrus, chili, and tomato - while working harmoniously with beneficial insects and the environment when applied according to label instructions.
Efficon: New Chemistry to Combat Falling Efficacies of Existing Solutions
Efficon belongs to a unique class of chemistry (IRAC group 36) with a unique mode of action for effective control of piercing & sucking pests in citrus, fruits and vegetables crops. It eliminates pest pressure, shields young shoots, and prevents phytotoxic damage - helping farmers protect fruit yield, reduce crop losses, and maintain plant health.
With systemic properties that grow with the plant, Efficon provides long-lasting residual control and flexibility in application timing, including during late growth stages when canopy coverage makes pest targeting difficult. It is compatible with a wide range of application methods, including foliar spray, drench, drip, and drone.
“The launch of Efficon in Indonesia is a milestone for BASF Agricultural Solutions business in Southeast Asia. It reflects our regional strategy to deliver the latest innovation with sustainable profiles that meet the evolving needs of farmers, while upholding the highest standards of stewardship,” said Robert Upton, Business Management Southeast Asia, BASF Agricultural Solutions.
“Over half-a-million farmers growing chili, and tomato in Indonesia and in our interaction with many of them, we understand how they are struggling to control whiteflies that serve as a vector for viruses that lead to unhealthy leaves and stunted plants and poor yields. “Said Jerico Gascon, Local Business Management, BASF Agricultural Solutions, Indonesia. Likewise, tens of thousands of citrus growers are combating scale insects that not only damage new shoots and fruits but result in poor quality of produce and lower yields. Efficon will be a game-changing solution for these farmers that will ultimately help improve yields.”
Significant Support for Indonesia’s Agriculture Sector
Indonesia’s pesticide imports are projected to grow by 4.1% annually, reaching 24,280 metric tons by 2026, reflecting the country’s increasing demand for effective crop protection solutions. Efficon® enters the market at a critical time, offering farmers a reliable and sustainable tool to combat pest pressure and improve productivity. Its compatibility with stewardship practices and beneficial biological organisms positions it as a strategic solution aligned with Indonesia’s agricultural development goals. (source)
About BASF’s Agricultural Solutions division
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 Indonesia
BASF has been investing in Indonesia since 1976. Today, BASF solutions contribute to the success of its customers in Indonesia in nearly all industries, including agriculture, food, home & personal care, automotive, paints and coatings and chemicals. The head office of BASF in Indonesia is locatedin Jakarta, with production sites in Cengkareng, Cimanggis and Merak – all of which are halal certified. In 2024, BASF posted sales of approximately €511 million to customers in Indonesia and employed 464 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF in Indonesia is available at www.basf.com/id.
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 www.basf.com.
