About us
by the way
Our beginnings
In the 1990s, Philippe Marc and Philippe Thiry, technical advisors at GAWI, were looking for a natural alternative to pesticides in apple orchards. They met Jean-Louis Hemptinne and Benoît Adam (Faculté agronomique de Gembloux, now Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech – ULiège), who were researching the ladybug Adalia bipunctata and its role in biological control. The two partners demonstrated the effectiveness of Adalia bipunctata against apple aphids. In 1999, Horpi was born.
Initial objectives: industrializeAdalia bipunctata breeding and market a range of biological control products.
With industrialization proving complex, Horpi quickly redirected its efforts towards private gardens and green spaces, while pursuing a sustained R&D program (breeding, feeding, conservation, production capacity, logistics).
Today, Horpi produces millions of ladybugs a year, distributes its solutions throughout Europe and continues to optimize its processes to offer simple, effective products for the private, public and professional sectors.
“At Horpi, we don’t just sell ladybugs: we provide a tested, validated, reproducible solution. “
– Philippe Marc, CEO of Horpi
The Horpi team – a close-knit group of researchers, breeders and logisticians united around a single vision: natural solutions for all crops.
Our story – From university laboratory to European leader
Year after year, Horpi has industrialized the rearing of Adalia bipunctata ladybugs, invested in research and innovation to develop practical, effective products, and built up reliable, responsive logistics. As a result, Horpi has become the European specialist in the use of Adalia bipunctata lady bugs against aphids.
1999 - 2000
- creation of the first production unit for the ladybug Adalia bipunctata
- production trials to analyze improvements to be made in the various stages of breeding
2001 - 2009
- optimization of the various stages of breeding
- development and marketing in Europe of ladybird-based products for aphid control in gardens and large urban trees
2010
- move to a new, more modern and efficient production site
2011 - 2023
- industrialization of livestock farming
2023 - 2025
- improved packaging for gardening products and large urban trees
- development of practical, reliable products for horticulture
2024 - 2025
- extension and modernization to increase production capacity
Our core values
Quality and reliability
Ensure consistent, high-performance production, from breeding to end-user.
Reactivity
From breeder to user in 72 hours: controlled logistics and customer service available for customized follow-up.
Sustainable commitment
Produce indigenous insects locally to reduce dependence on pesticides: we exclude any solution that could disrupt local ecosystems.
Innovation
Invest in R&D to constantly optimize breeding processes and make biological control of aphids simple and effective.
Pedagogy and transmission
Popularizing science, training dealers and users, sharing our experience: knowledge has to circulate.
Meet
the team
Experiment with our aphid control ladybugs
Philippe MARC
CEO
- General coordination
- Management
- Business development
- Commercial management
- R&D methods for controlling Adalia bipunctata
Nadia ANOUN
Operations Manager
- Coordinates and supervises breeding, logistics and personnel
- Breeding planning
- Quality assurance and control
- Optimizing production and logistics processes
- R&D products
Program the “births” of our ladybugs
Ensuresregulatory monitoring and compliance
Sabine SPITS
Administrative and Human Resources Manager
- Administrative and personnel management
- Billing
- Regulatory monitoring and compliance
- Purchasing supplies
Production team
- Feeding and supervision
- Harvesting and packaging
- Order preparation
- Participation in continuous improvement.
Pamper and look after ladybugs
The Horpi difference
Research & Development
Our R&D aims to produce high-quality ladybugs, guarantee their efficacy, simplify their use and constantly innovate, to support reliable, sustainable biological solutions. It’s applied R&D at the service of reliable, high-performance biological solutions.
Breeding optimization
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Increased capacity without compromising quality.
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Work on feeding, reproduction and living conditions.
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Standardization of breeding processes for reproducible results.
Storage and logistics
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Extended shelf life for greater flexibility of use.
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Controlled supply chain to preserve quality after dispatch.
Development of adapted products
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Private gardens, public green spaces, horticulture: dedicated formats and dosages.
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New conditioning and release techniques for greater ease and efficiency.
Integration into control strategies
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Field tests and documented technical protocols.
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Recommendations for targeting aphids at the right time and in the right place.
Your questions
What is Horpi?
We are a Belgian company specializing in large-scale breeding of the European ladybird Adalia bipunctata.
Our business is to produce high-performance biological control solutions against aphids to offer a practical, natural alternative to chemical insecticides. Find out more about our products on our catalog.
By controlling the entire production cycle in our facilities, we can guarantee gardeners and professionals vigorous auxiliaries, ready to provide long-term protection for plants against aphid invasions.
What does Horpi mean?
The name Horpi stands for Horticultureand Pi (Integrated Production). This identity reflects our deep commitment to providing organic solutions specifically adapted to the requirements of modern horticulture. Integrated Production" is at the heart of our philosophy, aiming for a perfect balance between crop yield and respect for human health, the environment and biodiversity.
Why the Adalia bipunctata ladybug?
We chose this species because it represents the best balance between efficiency and environmental safety.
As a native European species, its use poses no risk of biological invasion.
It is characterized by its exceptional voracity (a larva can consume up to 600 aphids during its entire development cycle) and its great versatility, attacking almost all aphid species on a wide variety of plants (trees, shrubs, flowers). For further technical information, please consult our resources.
Where can I use Horpi products?
Our solutions are designed for multi-sector application. They are just as effective in the intimate setting of a private garden or vegetable garden than for the management of public green spaces (parks, urban alignments) and professional professional horticultural cultivation (vegetable greenhouses, nurseries). They are perfectly suited to both outdoor and sheltered environments.
I want to use ladybugs to control aphids. Can I order directly from Horpi?
Horpi operates exclusively upstream of the chain as a specialized producer. We do not sell directly to individuals or end-users, in order to guarantee an expert distribution channel. To purchase our products, we invite you to find a dealer near you.
I want to sell Horpi products. How do I go about it?
We support biological control specialists wishing to include ladybug larvae and adults in their catalog.
Interested in joining our network? Find out how to to become a dealer on our dedicated page. Leave us your contact details and our experts will get back to you to discuss your partnership project.
Does Horpi breed and market other insects for biological control?
Horpi has made the strategic choice ofhyper-specialization. By concentrating 100% of our research and infrastructure on the Adalia bipunctata ladybug, we guarantee total mastery of the life cycle, superior quality and reliable, responsive logistics. This specialization enables us to guarantee some of the highest hatching and survival rates on the market.
How does Horpi guarantee the quality of its products?
Horpi quality is based on innovative rearing protocols in controlled environments, optimized feeding and rigorous monitoring of each batch. Our logistics are designed to minimize insect stress. Each ladybug dispatched benefits from maximum vitality, ensuring immediate predatory action as soon as it arrives on the release site.
What makes Horpi different?
By constantly investing in research and development, Horpi constantly optimizes breeding processes and, thanks to its technical expertise, designs aphid control products that are adapted to the specific needs of each crop.
