For three days, key players in the biocontrol sector are gathering in Basel, Switzerland, for the ABIM trade fair. The event provides an opportunity to spotlight Wallonia’s growing ecosystem of sustainable agriculture, a sector that continues to expand and innovate.
According to L’Echo (July 2025), the global agricultural biotechnology market is expected to grow by 8.7% per year through 2032, reaching a value of more than USD 76 billion. This represents a major opportunity for Walloon companies to claim their share of this fast-growing industry.
Driven by a network of dynamic businesses, Wallonia stands at the forefront of sustainable agricultural practices, offering innovative biostimulant and biocontrol solutions. The goal: to steer agriculture toward a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Wallonia provides an ideal environment for testing agricultural innovations, with 44% of its surface area devoted to farming. The region also benefits from a dense network of R&D centers, universities, and technical schools specialized in agricultural and food technologies, as well as a skilled workforce in agriculture and food production.
In June 2025, Wallonia also spearheaded the launch of a new European network on “Biosolutions for Sustainable Agriculture.” Coordinated by Wagralim (Wallonia’s agri-food competitiveness cluster), this initiative brings together 10 innovation hubs across seven EU countries.
This network stems from the European Commission’s Smart Specialisation Platform for Agri-Food, designed to foster interregional innovation partnerships (Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnerships – TSSPs) across Europe. Created in 2025, the Biosolutions Partnership promotes biocontrol, biostimulants, and biofertilisers in line with the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the Mission for Soil Health.
Anchored in the One Health approach, the program connects plant, animal, and human health, ensuring both ecological resilience and economic competitiveness.
Biocontrol, Biostimulants, and Biofertilisers — What Are They?
Biocontrol refers to plant protection products that serve as alternatives to petrochemical-based pesticides.
Biostimulants are a new generation of bio-based inputs that enhance plant growth and vitality.
Biocontrol products have wide-ranging applications — including seed coating, foliar spraying, and soil amendment.
In plant defense, these include biopesticides, biofungicides, bioherbicides, plant defense elicitors, and solutions addressing abiotic stress.
For growth and resilience, biofertilisers and biostimulants help boost germination, growth rate, resistance to pathogens, and overall plant vigor.
Walloon Companies at ABIM 2025
At the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) booth, nine Walloon companies are showcasing their expertise at ABIM in Basel, Switzerland, with four others participating independently: ARMOSA, FYTEKO, FYTOFEND, and KITOZYME.
Co-founded in 2020 by two professionals from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, Agricells is an innovative Belgian company dedicated to sustainable agriculture.
Its goal is to promote a healthier and more sustainable food system by developing and marketing affordable, accessible biostimulants and microorganism-based biocontrol solutions that reduce chemical inputs.
Agricells offers a range of products that maximize crop yields while controlling pathogens. With innovation at its core, the company is advancing R&D to develop innovative COMBO solutions based on proprietary bacterial strains.
In the coming years, Agricells will also launch a new generation of biofungicides, bioelicitors, bioinsecticides, and biostimulants.
APEO’s mission is to transform agriculture by promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices through science-based bioherbicides, biofungicides, and biocides.
Their products, made from natural essential oils and botanical extracts, act as 100% organic biopesticides.
APEO has already developed a first range of organic herbicides and biocides for the home and garden market.
Founded in 1999, Artechno specializes in the production of beneficial microorganisms for human health, animal nutrition, hygiene, as well as agronomic and environmental applications.
Experts in bacterial, yeast, and fungal fermentation, Artechno has developed customized solutions for over 25 years.
With over 1,000 scientific publications, multiple patents, and approved products, the company continues to lead innovation by actively participating in research projects.
A spin-off from UCLouvain, BiocSol builds on ten years of R&D and a broad portfolio of biocontrol agents to develop microorganism-free biocontrol solutions that are compatible with other active substances used in organic and conventional farming.
BiocSol delivers affordable, field-effective biopesticides that respect the environment and biodiversity, paving the way for more sustainable agriculture.
Medinbio is developing pesticide-free plant production systems in partnership with agro-industrial players, based on its innovative Systemic® approach.
It also offers a wide range of natural products for plant protection and natural active ingredients used as biostimulants, designed for professional farmers and horticulturists.
Minagro develops bio-based co-formulants for the agrochemical industry. Integrated into pesticides and fertilizers, these ingredients reduce toxicity and improve the performance of products used in organic farming.
Minagro’s mission is to address environmental challenges by supplying eco-friendly, safer ingredients — such as preservatives, adjuvants, solvents, and biostimulant actives — to agrochemical companies.
Rhizome is a centralized operator conducting and managing GEP experimental trials across Europe and worldwide, ensuring regulatory and technical excellence.
Redebel Regulatory Affairs (RRA)
Redebel Regulatory Affairs (RRA) provides a full range of regulatory services in the EU and abroad, covering active substances and formulations under regulations such as: Plant Protection Products (PPP) – (EC) No. 1107/2009; Biostimulants – national and EU (EU) No. 2019/1009; Biocides – (EU) No. 528/2012 and Chemicals (REACH) – (EC) No. 1907/2006.
WeeXa produces biological solutions (microorganisms and plant extract-based products). Active in microbial fermentation and plant extract formulation, WeeXa develops bio-based agricultural products designed to support sustainable farming.
Isabelle Anneet (AWEX)
