After discovery of a new active ingredient, we validate it in extensive field trials, set up in different climatic conditions and on a variety of crops. The results of these field trials, which typically span multiple years, are crucial for the submission of registration dossiers in target countries.
Independent trials and
product validation
All product development and product positioning trials are outsourced to third-party contract research organisations (CROs) accredited and authorised to conduct trials with products under development. They apply standard farming practices recognised by the industry and the regulators.
In addition, various academics perform independent trials with products that are both already registered as well as under regulatory review. These extension trials for grapes and strawberries, conducted by a number of prestigious independent academic institutions in the United States, are industry gold-standard studies which provide growers and crop advisors with detailed information on the performance of existing and pipeline crop protection products.
Field trial program since 2017
EVOCA has been tested since 2017 in over 700 field trials in ten countries over multiple seasons under different environmental conditions. It has been tested on grape, tomato, strawberry, and cucurbit crops against Botrytis and powdery mildew, to compare its performance to conventional chemical and biological crop protection products. The results from these trials confirm that EVOCA is an excellent new tool for growers and an ideal partner in spray rotation programs.
CROPS
Grapes
Tomato
Strawberries
Cucurbits
DISEASES
Botrytis
Powdery mildew
COUNTRIES
US: California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Washington
EU: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain
South Africa
Japan
Please see the following press releases for more detailed information on Biotalys’ commissioned field trials in the past years:
- Biotalys’ ongoing trial program demonstrates strong potential of its new generation protein-based biocontrols
- Latest field trials validate strength of Biotalys’ first biocontrol Evoca
- Biotalys continues to demonstrate strength of first biocontrol in latest global field trials
For an overview of results of academic field trials, please see the following press releases:
Demonstration trials in the Netherlands
End of 2024, the Dutch regulator (CTGB) approved large scale demonstration trials with EVOCA in greenhouses. Importantly, the regulator allowed the harvested fruits and vegetables to be sold for human consumption – an exemption to standard practices requiring crop destruction when a crop protection product is used that has not yet received regulatory approval.
This reinforces our confidence that the product is safe to use. This decision by the Dutch authority is particularly relevant as the Netherlands is both the rapporteur Member State for our regulatory dossier at the European level and one of the largest
exporters of fruits and vegetables worldwide.
In 2025, EVOCA was tested by several Dutch growers in cucumber, strawberry and tomato. The feedback Biotalys received was positive, and the participating growers have indicated they wished to continue testing the product in 2026.
Picture: Rob van Enckevort (De Peelkroon BV) and Nico Vergote (Biotalys)
BioFun-6
Commissioned field trials
Biotalys also initiated field trials for BioFun-6, a next-generation product in our pipeline targeting key fungal diseases botrytis (grey mould) and powdery mildew in high value fruits and vegetables. The first rounds of field trials are performed in the United States and Europe and focus on grapes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
The results showed that the BioFun-6 AGROBODY biocontrol can achieve the same level of performance as EVOCA, the company’s first biofungicide, at significantly lower dosage rates, highlighting the increased potency of the new candidate.
When applied at 2/3 the dose rate of EVOCA, the tested BioFun-6 candidate proved to be a valid substitution to leading chemical products against Botrytis in grapes. Applied at half the dose rate of EVOCA, the tested candidate maintained the same disease suppression as EVOCA against powdery mildew in cucumber and outperformed a standard biological fungicide. A first set trials in tomatoes showed similar results.
For more information,
see our press release:
Biotalys plans to test a second lead candidate in its field trial program to allow the company to select the best candidate for further development on its platform.
Academic field trials
The first lead candidate for BioFun-6 also performed well in independent academic trials by UC Davis in California in 2025.
Over 40 fungicide spray combinations were tested against Botrytis and powdery mildew in grapes. For both fungal pathogens, a spray rotation program including first BioFun-6 candidate outperformed all combinations, including the standard chemical rotation.
The full results are published here:
Post-harvest market
Biotalys has partnered with global leader AgroFresh to protect fresh produce. Post-harvest freshness solutions are especially critical for high-value and highly perishable crops, where even small losses can result in major food waste and economic impact.
For more information about this partnership, see our press release: