BASF presents RAK® Tuta in Almería, its new solution for the control of Tuta absoluta in tomatoes

15 May 2026

BASF presents RAK® Tuta in Almería, its new solution for the control of Tuta absoluta in tomatoes

More than 150 technicians and growers gathered at La Jábega to discover this new pheromone diffuser, designed to interrupt the pest’s reproductive cycle through sexual confusion.
RAK® Tuta works by releasing the female sex pheromone of Tuta absoluta, which disorients the male and makes mating more difficult.
The solution is intended for greenhouse tomato cultivation and fits into biological and integrated pest management strategies.

On 5 May, BASF presented RAK® Tuta in La Jábega, Almería, its new solution for the control of Tuta absoluta in tomato crops. The event brought together more than 150 technicians and growers from the sector and focused on the potential of this tool within integrated pest management strategies in greenhouse cultivation.

Tuta absoluta is one of the main pests affecting tomato crops. This leaf-mining moth can damage leaves, stems, and fruits, with major consequences for yield and the market quality of the harvest. In response to this challenge, BASF has developed RAK® Tuta, a pheromone diffuser that works through the technique of sexual confusion.

The solution operates by releasing the sex pheromone of the female Tuta absoluta inside the greenhouse. In this way, the male becomes disoriented and has greater difficulty locating the female, which reduces mating opportunities and helps interrupt the pest’s reproductive cycle.

A tool compatible with biological control

RAK® Tuta is presented as a solution compatible with the biological control programmes commonly used in tomato cultivation. As explained during the event, the diffuser does not affect beneficial insects such as Nesidiocoris, Trichogramma, or Orius, which allows it to be integrated into more sustainable crop management strategies that respect the biological balance within the greenhouse.

In addition, this technology leaves no residues on the fruit, an especially relevant feature for growers working under high standards of quality, food safety, and market requirements.

Soil biodegradability

One of the distinguishing features of RAK® Tuta is the biodegradability of the device. Unlike conventional plastic diffusers, which must be manually removed at the end of the crop cycle, RAK® Tuta is made from plant-based material and is certified as biodegradable in soil according to TÜV Austria and the EN 13432 standard.

As a result, once the season is over, the diffuser falls to the ground and degrades naturally within a few months, reducing waste generation and the labour required for collection. Each device offers a duration of 180 to 200 days, enough to cover a full greenhouse tomato growing cycle.

A technical event for the tomato sector

The presentation of RAK® Tuta was led by Patricio Fitz Simon, Agricultural Solutions Director at BASF Spain, and included technical participation from Arturo Sanz and Pedro Ríos, who explained the characteristics of the new solution and its field application.

The event also featured a presentation by Ignacio Crespo, science communicator and director of the Serendipiasprogramme on Cadena SER, titled “Your brain also falls into the trap.” During his talk, Crespo drew a parallel between the sexual confusion mechanism caused by RAK® Tuta in the moth and the cognitive biases that influence human decision-making.

With this new solution, BASF reinforces its commitment to tools that contribute to more efficient, integrated, and sustainable horticultural production, especially in production areas where Tuta absoluta remains a constant challenge for tomato cultivation.