ATGC Biotech and Luxembourg Industries Launch Semiophore™ A 50:50 Indo–Israeli JV for Global Deployment of Novel Pheromone Technologies

• Today’s licensing exchange marks a historic first: the out-licensing of Indian semiochemical technology to Israel, ushering in a new phase of bilateral scientific cooperation in sustainable, climate-smart agriculture.
• Semiophore and its JV Partner, to invest $ 10 million in registrations, marketing and upgrading its facilities. At full maturity, each product is projected to capture USD 75–100 million, supported by large-scale adoption in horticulture and broad-acre row crops.

ATGC Biotech, India’s leading innovator in pheromone and semiochemical based crop protection, based in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, today announced the formal establishment of Semiophore Ltd., a 50:50 Indo–Israeli Joint Venture (JV) with Luxembourg Industries Ltd., Israel.

The exchange of licensing agreements was held at the Valedictory Session of the First International Science & Technology (S&T) Clusters Conference in New Delhi. The announcement was made in the presence of Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the PSA, Mr. Vishal Choudhary, Office of the PSA and His Excellency Mr. Fares Saeb, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to India, , along with senior dignitaries, delegates, and international S&T cluster representatives. The JV ceremony was attended by global delegates from over 38 countries; the event marked a new chapter in Indo-Israeli collaboration on climate-smart agriculture.

The Semiophore JV is being fully financed by its partners, with a cumulative investment of USD 10 million by Semiophore, Luxembourg Industries, and ATGC Biotech towards infrastructure in India and Israel and regulatory registrations for 18 Indian-developed semiochemical and pheromone technologies across Israel, Brazil, Australia, and Africa, supported by advanced manufacturing and distribution. These 18 licensed products together address a multi-billion-dollar global market opportunity.

Under the JV agreement, ATGC will contribute IP, technology, know-how, regulatory dossiers, capex and R&D leadership, while Luxembourg invests in capex, regulatory, Marketing and manufacturing costs.

Semiophore JV marks a milestone in global pheromone technology, bringing a new class of competitive attraction and insect behavior modifying systems that use minimal pheromone chemistry enabled by advanced material-science integrated delivery platforms. These controlled-release technologies overcome decades-old limitations of pheromone pest management once scientifically proven but commercially inaccessible by providing season-long, water-free, precision point-source application that is pollinator-safe, residue-free, and capable of substantially reducing insecticide dependence while lowering CO₂e, water, and plastic footprints.

Through this Indo–Israeli partnership, 18 advanced semiochemical technologies including mating disruption, attract-and-kill, aggregation, and anti-aggregation systems will be scaled to address a multi-billion-dollar global opportunity across crops such as grapes, apples, citrus, almonds, tomatoes, cotton, corn, cabbage, cauliflower, and avocados. This collaboration establishes a new global category in sustainable, export-compliant, climate-resilient agriculture and represents a decisive shift from chemical dependence to behaviour-based, biology-led crop protection, positioning India and Israel as leaders shaping the future of environmentally responsible farming worldwide.
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Statement by H.E. Mr. Fares Saeb, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to India “Israel and India share a strong partnership in agriculture and technology. Today’s licensing exchange represents an important step toward expanding sustainable, environmentally safe crop protection. The establishment of Semiophore exemplifies the growing global relevance of Indo–Israeli innovation, and we congratulate both partners on this milestone.”

Statement by Mr. Uri Rubinstein, Agriculture Attaché, MASHAV: “ATGC Biotech has been a consistent and active participant in our training programs, Centers of Excellence, and capacity-building efforts across India. Their work aligns with our shared goal of strengthening farmer livelihoods through sustainable and innovative agricultural practices. The creation of Semiophore Ltd. represents a meaningful extension of Indo–Israel cooperation in advanced agriculture, and we look forward to continued collaboration.”

Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, said, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, said: “DBT is pleased to note the establishment of Semiophore Ltd., the Indo–Israeli Joint Venture between ATGC Biotech and Luxembourg Industries. This milestone showcases the strength of India’s biotechnology ecosystem and demonstrates how long-term public investment in science can translate into globally deployable technologies.

Through DBT-supported programs at JNCASR and NBAIR, and with complementary support from BIRAC to ATGC Biotech, India has been able to develop advanced semiochemical and pheromone-based crop protection platforms. These innovations reflect our commitment to sustainable agriculture, reduced chemical usage, and environmentally responsible pest management.

It is particularly encouraging that, for the first time, technology developed through Indian science and supported by DBT and BIRAC will now be manufactured and distributed in Israel through the Semiophore joint venture. This represents a meaningful step in Indo–Israeli scientific collaboration and a strong example of how India’s bioeconomy is creating global impact.

Speaking on behalf of the ATGC leadership team, Prof Arjula R Reddy, Rolando Alegria CEO, Dr VB Reddy ED, Dr. Markandeya Gorantla, Chairman & Managing Director, ATGC Biotech, said: “This is a defining moment for India’s bioeconomy and for the global semiochemical industry. For the first time, Indian-developed semiochemical technologies will be manufactured and commercialized in Israel, marking a new chapter in Indo–Israeli scientific and industrial cooperation. Through Semiophore, India and Israel are jointly shaping the future of sustainable, behaviour-based crop protection with advanced material-science–enabled delivery systems that use minimal pheromone chemistry to achieve season-long performance. The JV will begin initial commercial batches in 2026 and scale to full capacity in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.

This partnership will generate high-value jobs in both countries. In Israel, it will expand opportunities in manufacturing, quality control, agronomy, and entomology while accelerating tech-driven exports. Together with Luxembourg Industries, we are creating a globally competitive platform that positions India and Israel at the forefront of sustainable, residue-free, climate-resilient agriculture.”

Mr. Moshik Fish, CEO, Luxembourg Industries & Director, Semiophore Ltd., said, The Semiophore partnership brings together India’s scientific strengths and Israel’s agricultural expertise. We are delighted to deploy India’s next-generation pheromone technologies across Israeli agriculture.

About Pheromone Technologies and Semiochemical Technology: Pheromone technologies use natural chemical signals to control pest behavior, while semiochemical technologies involve a broader range of chemical signals to influence interactions between different species for pest management. Both pheromone and semiochemical technologies offer a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to pest management by targeting specific pests without harming beneficial insects, pollinators, or the surrounding ecosystem. 

About Semiophore Ltd.: Semiophore Ltd. is a 50:50 Indo–Israeli Joint Venture formed by ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd. and Luxembourg Industries Ltd., dedicated to global commercialization of pheromone- and semiochemical-based crop protection technologies. 

About ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd.: Founded in 2011 in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, ATGC Biotech is India’s only commercial manufacturer of pheromones and a global pioneer in ultra-low-dose, bio-manufactured crop protection powered by synthetic biology, whole-cell biotransformation, and advanced material science. ATGC holds 26+ patents, collaborates across 20+ countries, and has validated its technologies across 200,000+ acres. ATGC is recognized as a case study by the World Economic Forum, PSA to PMO, Indian Academy of Sciences, USDA, DBT–BIRAC, DST, and ICAR for its contributions to climate-smart, sustainable agriculture.

ATGC is the creator of CREMIT™, the world’s first 5-gram, month-long, zero-water pheromone platform, and the pioneer of “Insect Family Planning” for precision mating disruption. The company is based in Genome Valley, Hyderabad. www.atgc.in