Biotalys’ First Commercial Biofungicide EVOCA® NG Approved for Large-Scale Commercial Field Trials in the Netherlands
Approval underscores confidence in Biotalys’ AGROBODY® technology and follows strong interest from Dutch growers to test the product against fungal diseases in cucumber, tomato and strawberry.
KEY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Biotalys receives Dutch regulatory approval to conduct large-scale commercial demonstration trials of EVOCA NG.
Trials authorised on up to 150 hectares of tomatoes, 150 hectares of cucumbers and 50 hectares of strawberries.
Demonstration programme supports real-world evaluation of AGROBODY® technology ahead of the expected European registration and launch in 2029.
Biotalys (Euronext Brussels: BTLS), an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing protein-based biocontrol solutions for sustainable crop protection, has received approval from the Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb) to conduct large-scale demonstration trials of its next-generation biofungicide candidate, EVOCA NG.
The approval marks the first commercial application of EVOCA NG under real growing conditions and significantly expands the scale of the company’s demonstration programme conducted in previous years with its first-generation biocontrol product, EVOCA.
Large-scale commercial field trials approved
The Dutch regulatory approval enables growers to evaluate EVOCA NG across substantial commercial growing areas, allowing the company to gather practical insights into product performance under real agricultural conditions.
Approved Demonstration Trial Areas
150
Hectares of Tomatoes
150
Hectares of Cucumbers
50
Hectares of Strawberries
Total authorised demonstration area: Up to 350 hectares
“The approval of this demonstration program marks an important milestone for our company.”
Carlo Boutton
Chief Executive Officer, Biotalys
According to Carlo Boutton, the expanded programme will enable growers to evaluate EVOCA NG across larger commercial acreages while allowing harvested produce to enter the food chain. The trials will provide real-world validation as Biotalys continues product development and production optimisation. He also highlighted the regulatory milestone as a reflection of growing confidence in the safety and potential of the company’s AGROBODY-based biofungicide technology.
Targeting two major fungal diseases
The demonstration trials will evaluate EVOCA NG for the control of Botrytis and powdery mildew, two economically important fungal diseases affecting agricultural crops worldwide.
Botrytis (Grey Mould)
Botrytis can infect flowers, fruits, leaves and stems, causing tissue decay and grey mould that can reduce crop yields and marketable quality.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew develops mainly on leaf surfaces and other green tissues, weakening plant growth and affecting crop productivity and fruit quality.
Biotalys is developing EVOCA NG to help growers maintain crop yield and quality at a time when conventional crop protection products face increasing resistance challenges, regulatory restrictions and product phase-outs.
Grower perspectives
Feedback from Dutch growers who participated in earlier demonstration trials with EVOCA highlights the practical value of evaluating biological crop protection technologies under commercial growing conditions.
“We applied EVOCA on 3.7 hectares of strawberries with great results.”
Noud Dings
Brookberries, Netherlands
At Brookberries, EVOCA replaced a synthetic fungicide within a crop protection rotation programme.
“For a second year in a row, we successfully used EVOCA against powdery mildew in strawberries.”
Rob van Enckevort
De Peelkroon, Netherlands
Both growers expressed interest in participating in the newly approved EVOCA NG demonstration trials. The programme is intended to familiarise growers with the technology and support early adoption ahead of the product’s anticipated European registration and launch in 2029.
About EVOCA NG
EVOCA® NG is Biotalys’ next-generation protein-based biofungicide candidate, developed using the company’s proprietary AGROBODY® technology platform.
The product is being developed to help fruit and vegetable growers control Botrytis (grey mould) and powdery mildew while supporting increasingly sustainable agricultural production systems.
EVOCA NG is expected to become Biotalys’ first commercial biofungicide, with a planned launch in the United States and European Union in 2029.
Target Market Opportunity
USD 1.1 Billion
Combined target market in the U.S. and E.U.
Source: Kynetec 2020; Biotalys
Regulatory progress and commercial development
EVOCA NG contains the same bioactive ingredient as EVOCA, Biotalys’ first-generation protein-based biofungicide.
EVOCA received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December 2025, followed by state-level approvals in Florida and California in 2026.
Regulatory review of EVOCA remains ongoing in the European Union. Approval of the first-generation product is expected to support the regulatory submission process for EVOCA NG.
The Netherlands demonstration approval represents an important step in EVOCA NG’s development, enabling commercial-scale evaluation while Biotalys continues working towards broader product registration and commercialisation.
About Biotalys
Biotalys is an Agricultural Technology (AgTech) company developing precision biocontrol solutions based on proteins for crop protection in both pre-harvest and post-harvest markets.
The company develops solutions designed to combine the efficacy and scalability of conventional chemistry with the environmental advantages of biological crop protection.
Through its proprietary AGROBODY® technology platform, Biotalys is developing a pipeline of protein-based product candidates targeting important crop pests and diseases across the agricultural value chain.
Founded as a spin-off from the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology), Biotalys is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, and is listed on Euronext Brussels.
Important Notice
Biotalys, its business, prospects and financial position remain subject to risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these risks is available in the company’s published annual report.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to the company’s strategy, development programmes, regulatory activities and future commercial expectations. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties and do not guarantee future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Biotalys undertakes no obligation to update these statements unless required by law.
Biotalys NV
EVOCA® NG | Commercial Demonstration Trials | November 2026
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