From a start-up to the Andermatt Group:
Extracts of an interview with founder Martin Andermatt

Martin Andermatt explains: "In the 1980s, many methods for biological plant protection had already been developed in various research laboratories around the world, especially in Switzerland. But they had not been put into practice! We wanted to change that. That's why my wife Isabel and I decided to produce biological pesticides to make them available to food producers."

Andermatt Biocontrol was founded in 1988

"We started the first production in our small apartment in Oberglatt, Zurich. Andermatt Biocontrol was born. Our first product, Madex, based on highly selective codling moth granulosis viruses, came onto the market in spring 1988 and found grateful customers in organic fruit growing. Today, Madex is used successfully worldwide in both organic and conventional fruit production."

"Due to the high demand, we needed more space and found the ideal place to expand our production in Grossdietwil, Canton Lucerne. The move took place at the end of 1988."

"Our vision is to provide healthy food from a healthy environment for all people with the help of biological pest control methods. In the years that followed, Andermatt Biocontrol developed numerous proprietary products based on viruses, fungi and nematodes. We also invested in the mass production of beneficial organisms. In the 1990s, we developed products to combat the varroa mite in bees. Demand for our biological methods also increased in the home and garden sector."

In 2003, we reorganized and founded new companies

"In 2003, we decided to split Andermatt Biocontrol in order to better meet the different needs of our growing customer base. We founded Andermatt BioVet and Andermatt Biogarten. Andermatt Biocontrol was to continue to concentrate on its core competence, the production of insect viruses. We also invested in the automation of production."

Andermatt Biocontrol Suisse today

"Today, Andermatt Biocontrol Suisse produces over a dozen insect virus products - more than any other producer! For the Swiss market, we offer an almost complete range of globally available, effective biological plant protection products. Using these products correctly requires technical knowledge and experience."

"Our professional advisory team supports customers on site and recommends the use of our products in a sophisticated strategy, tailored to the customer's needs and situation. Our customers' success is our gain. We want to give good and correct advice and not sell as much as possible! The consulting team does not receive any commission on sales."

The Andermatt Group

"In recent years, we have established twenty subsidiaries on different continents so that our products can be used worldwide. We integrated nine manufacturing companies to expand the product range."

"Over 500 employees combine a wealth of knowledge in biological plant protection, which they pass on to customers with great enthusiasm. Every employee makes an important contribution to the production of healthy food and the preservation of biodiversity, which is motivating."

"The group of companies is owned by us founders together with the employees. We want to maintain our independence from large corporations or investors in the future."

The future of biological pesticides

"Many more biological plant protection products could be used! Unfortunately, registration hurdles have become a major stumbling block for organic plant protection products. Due to the many risks associated with conventional products, the hurdles for registering plant protection products have been continually raised. In Switzerland and many other countries, organic products have to undergo the same procedures as conventional products. As a result, registration takes a very long time (3 to 6 years!) and costs far too much. Organic products are usually much more specific than synthetic chemical products, which is very desirable on the one hand, but on the other hand also means that the market is very small. Unfortunately, we are now unable to register highly specific, very effective and safe products in some markets because the registration costs are disproportionate to the market volume."