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New biologicals coming from Syngenta, Biotalys

Syngenta Crop Protection plans to collaborate with Biotalys to research and commercialize new biocontrols for a wide range of pests and diseases.

Biotalys Chief Business Officer Patrick McDonnell tells Brownfield the technology crosses protein-based solutions in healthcare into agriculture.

“It’s an antibody source, we call it an agrobody in the case of agricultural uses and it performs in a novel way that can address many needs in the market,” he says.

McDonnell says Evoca, Biotalys’ first fungicide product, is currently pending EPA approval and will likely come to market in the next year for U.S. fruit and vegetable growers to tackle diseases like powdery mildew, protecting yields and extending produce shelf life after harvest.

“It is, for the first time, a biological solution if you will that performs like a chemical, but in fact is a non-chemical—our challenge is to take that technology and commercialize it,” he says.

He says the new technology is expected to be available to growers in about eight to 10 years.