According to the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, between 25% and 50% of crops worldwide are lost to weeds (34%), pests (16%) and pathogens (14%).
The current context of biocontrol
The market for biocontrol products is expected to grow by 15% per year over the next 5 years.
Biocontrol agents are a great ally to meet the social, regulatory and technical demands faced by the sector. Regulatory bodies in various regions are driving programs to reduce the use of traditional agrochemicals. Society demands fruits and vegetables without residues of synthetic products. Farmers have to find solutions that are effective and that allow them to maintain or increase the profitability of their farms. In addition, the emergence of pests or diseases resistant to current synthetic products implies a transformation of the current model.
For its part, the European Union is asking stakeholders to support biocontrol in order to be in line with its “Farm to Fork” strategy and to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal, such as reducing the use of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030.
In this context, Symborg is developing new solutions along these lines and providing the farmer with biological mechanisms for pest control.
Symborg is working on the development of several biocontrol concepts, including bioinsecticides based on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana 203 and biofungicides based on Trichoderma spp.
