Protecting plant health in a hotter, saltier world

The International Day of Plant Health 2026, observed on 12 May under the theme Plant Biosecurity for Food Security and Nutrition, is a reminder that stable food systems depend on both effective pest management and the ability of crops to tolerate a changing climate. The United Nations established the day to raise awareness of how safeguarding plant health can reduce hunger and poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and support economic development.

Against this backdrop, two European Innovation Council Accelerator beneficiaries illustrate different fronts of the same challenge. Agrobiomics APS in Denmark targets abiotic stress by helping crops survive drought and salinity. Pertinent Eco-Solutions in France targets biotic stress by developing safer insect control that seeks to rival the performance of conventional pesticides. Both are moving from lab-scale validation to regulatory and commercial steps in Europe and the Americas.

Two EIC-backed approaches to plant health

Agrobiomics APS addresses climate-driven abiotic stress using a new fermentation-derived biostimulant reported to be effective at very low doses. Pertinent Eco-Solutions focuses on pest control with nature-derived actives that aim to combine the efficacy associated with chemical pesticides and the safety profile of biocontrol agents.

Agrobiomics APS: biostimulants for drought and salinity tolerance

Drought and salinity are accelerating with climate change and directly undermine plant nutrient uptake and yields. Agrobiomics cites that salinity alone affects more than 800 million hectares of arable land worldwide and that combined annual losses from drought and salinity reach about €90 billion. The company’s solution, developed under the EIC-funded SUBTARC project, is a biostimulant produced through bacterial fermentation that reportedly works at low application rates, which could make adoption easier and cheaper for farmers if efficacy is confirmed at scale.

Agrobiomics reports validation across broadacre crops and fruit and vegetable categories. The firm is now focusing on optimizing and scaling production and running large-scale field trials. These steps are essential to build a regulatory dossier and to persuade farmers and agri-input partners of consistent performance under varied conditions.

Pertinent Eco-Solutions: closing the gap between safety and efficacy

Farmers often choose between potent chemical pesticides with environmental and human health risks and biocontrols that are perceived as less consistent. Pertinent Eco-Solutions, backed by the EIC Accelerator, positions its VERANO project to bridge that gap with nature-derived formulations that aim to deliver chemical-like performance while maintaining a biocontrol safety profile.

Under VERANO, early field work in the United States reportedly shows that Pertinent’s formulations outperform other plant-based biocontrol products in potency and reliability across more than 20 specialty crops and even against insect strains resistant to widely used chemical pesticides. A lead formulation has been selected, optimized, and registered under the AgForce brand in the US. In Europe, Pertinent and partner De Sangosse ran more than 50 field trials on 20 crops, selected a lead formulation, and initiated regulatory work. The company targets market entries in the EU, the United States, and Latin America.

How the EIC Accelerator fits into the EU innovation landscape

Both projects illustrate how EIC support is used to move beyond small trials toward regulatory dossiers and market channels. Pertinent’s VERANO was funded under an EIC Accelerator Challenge on resilient agriculture. Agrobiomics’ SUBTARC received support through the open EIC Accelerator call. These instruments are designed to advance EU priorities but do not by themselves solve regulatory or adoption bottlenecks.

Regulatory and market realities likely to shape outcomes

EU market authorisations for plant protection products are lengthy and data intensive under Regulation 1107/2009. Even nature-derived actives must demonstrate efficacy and acceptable risk to human health and the environment. Some countries use temporary or emergency authorisations within strict rules, but full approvals can take years and vary by Member State. For biostimulants, the EU Fertilising Products Regulation provides a harmonised route, but claims must be precise and substantiated. In the United States, EPA registration under FIFRA is also rigorous though timelines and data expectations differ from the EU.

Field performance remains the decisive factor for farmer adoption. Results from a limited set of geographies or seasons do not guarantee consistency across Europe’s diverse agronomic zones. Low-dose claims must translate into real cost advantages after considering application frequency, compatibility with existing programs, and stewardship requirements. Manufacturing scale-up for fermentation-based actives adds another layer of complexity, from batch-to-batch consistency to cost of goods and supply reliability.

Technical notes on mode of action and scale-up risk

Evidence, marketing claims and what is verified

VERANO’s reported efficacy across more than 20 specialty crops in the US and performance against resistant insects are promising, as is registration of a lead formulation under the AgForce brand. In Europe, more than 50 field trials with De Sangosse suggest meaningful technical development. These are company and project communications rather than peer reviewed publications and should be read as such until regulators publish assessments or independent trials corroborate the results.

Pertinent’s corporate website highlights USDA Certified Biobased Product labeling and a running tally of pounds of traditional pesticides replaced. Biobased certification confirms renewable content in the product but is not a safety or efficacy certification. Replacement tallies on company websites are marketing indicators and are not equivalent to official pesticide-use statistics. Agrobiomics’ low-dose affordability claims hinge on real-world efficacy, compatibility, and regulatory labelling that constrains how benefits can be marketed.

Policy context in Europe and likely implications

EU institutions continue to prioritize climate adaptation and biodiversity protection in agriculture. There is long-standing political pressure to reduce the use and risk of hazardous pesticides and to accelerate safer alternatives. The legislative path toward binding pesticide reductions has been politically contentious, and regulatory timelines for new products remain a bottleneck for innovation. EIC-backed firms that can bring robust data and credible stewardship plans may find receptive partners in distribution and farming cooperatives, but success still depends on regulatory clearance and consistent performance at scale.

At a glance: companies, projects and timelines

Why the International Day of Plant Health matters here

Plant biosecurity is not only about stopping pests and pathogens. It also includes making crops resilient enough to withstand droughts and saline soils that are becoming more common. Pertinent Eco-Solutions targets the biotic side with pest control tools that aim to reduce the safety versus efficacy trade-off. Agrobiomics targets the abiotic side by helping crops maintain function under stress. Both contributions support a more resilient agricultural system if they clear regulatory hurdles and deliver consistent value on farms.

Sources and transparency

Funding, milestones and descriptions for VERANO and SUBTARC are drawn from the European Commission’s CORDIS project pages and EIC Community communications. Product references and marketing claims for Pertinent Eco-Solutions, including AgForce and USDA biobased labeling, are from the company’s public website. As with any early-stage innovation, independent verification and regulatory assessments will ultimately determine market impact.

Disclaimer

This article is prepared for knowledge sharing. It does not represent the official view of the European Commission or any other organisation. All efficacy and market claims remain the responsibility of the companies until validated by regulators and independent studies.