In this post, Kevin Helash elaborates on the third category of crop protection solutions in which Biotalys is pioneering: Precision Biocontrols.
For decades, innovation in synthetic chemistry has built a foundational set of crop-protection tools. In parallel, significant progress in biological approaches has broadened the palette with more targeted and nature-aligned modes of action. Yet, despite these advances, growers still confront significant challenges: rising resistance to existing active ingredients, shifting regulations which are restricting usage of traditional synthetic solutions, changing climate pressures, and the need to protect yield without compromising sustainability or reliability.
Biotalys is pioneering a new class of precision protein-based solutions designed to complement, not simply replace existing tools. Built on a powerful and dynamic single technology platform, our Precision Biocontrols aim to deliver the reliability growers expect from synthetics together with the safety profile and sustainability attributes associated with biologicals. This represents a constructive “third category” that can help close critical performance and resistance gaps.
Our AGROBODY™ platform is designed to create antibody-derived proteins to precisely target pests and pathogens with novel modes of action, a key to stewarding resistance while reducing reliance on chemistries under regulatory and societal pressure. The platform’s ability to combine multiple AGROBODY bioactives into a single product further expands optionality and lowers resistance risk over time.
EVOCA™, our first product, has reached key regulatory milestones in the U.S. and EU and has been validated across more than 600 field trials. It lays the groundwork for a pipeline of bio-fungicides and bio-insecticides across pre- and post-harvest use cases. Our portfolio and technology is backed by more than 25 patents across major markets and supported through a growing partner network.
Biotalys is working to make crop protection more resilient, predictable, and sustainable by creating novel crop protection products with novel modes of action for years to come in our mission to support growers to produce safe, healthy affordable food sustainably.