Biotalys and 21st.BIO partner on biocontrol production

Belguim-based agricultural technology company Biotalys and Danish precision fermentation technology company 21st.BIO have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the production of Biotalys’ protein-based biocontrol solutions.

This collaboration will leverage 21st.BIO’s proprietary fermentation platform to support the production of Biotalys’ AGROBODY agricultural biocontrol products at commercially competitive costs. 

21st.BIO's platform is powered by production strains refined over more than four decades. Part of 21st.BIO’s advanced precision fermentation technology is licensed from Danish biosolutions company Novonesis, and the new collaboration will integrate 21st.BIO’s capabilities with prior work conducted by Biotalys and Novonesis. This collaboration is expected to expand process development options and support efficient, large-scale manufacturing of Biotalys’ precision biocontrol products.

“This partnership marks an important strategic step in strengthening the technical backbone of our AGROBODY platform,” said Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys, which was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology). “By combining 21st.BIO’s proven fermentation expertise with our own innovation in protein-based biocontrols, we are reinforcing the foundation needed to support a growing and differentiated product portfolio.”

“Our collaboration with Novonesis and its relationship to 21st.BIO were critical in unlocking this next step toward advancing our first commercial product, EVOCA NG, and other products in our pipeline toward commercialization,” he added.

Thomas Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of 21st.BIO, which was founded in 2020, added: “21st.BIO was founded on the ambition to bring promising lab-scale innovation to reliable, cost-effective, industrial-scale biotech production — as fast as possible, and with reduced risk. We are proud to help Biotalys reduce production costs and increase speed to market with our leading precision fermentation technology. Our collaboration will ensure that powerful protein-based biocontrols like EVOCA NG become a sustainable and cost-effective option for growers around the globe, so we can support a safer, more secure food chain for all.”

In line with the transition to this new agreement, Biotalys and Novonesis will conclude their collaboration. Biotalys is in discussions with manufacturing and distribution partners globally to secure its commercialization strategy. The company expects to have all key arrangements in place ahead of the launch of EVOCA NG, subject to registration, which is currently foreseen for 2028-29 in the U.S. and 2029-30 in the E.U.

To support these continued advancements, Biotalys confirmed its cash runway into May 2026 as previously announced. The company is considering additional financing through equity from institutional investors or otherwise to fund the route to commercialization of EVOCA NG and the continued development of its portfolio of novel AGROBODY biocontrols on its technology platform.

Biotalys announced that the U.S. EPA approved EVOCA, the company’s first-generation version, in December 2025. An approval of EVOCA paves the way for the regulatory submission of EVOCA NG, which contains the same active ingredient as EVOCA.

EVOCA NG, expected to be Biotalys’ first commercial biofungicide, helps safely control the fungal diseases Botrytis (grey mold) and powdery mildew for fruit and vegetable growers