Agriculture

The funding from the Walloon Region in particular will support the future development of BiocSol’s R&D platform. (Image source: David Plas BiocSol)

BiocSol, a UCLouvain spin-off specialised in sustainable crop protection solutions, announces that it has secured US$4.58mn in its latest funding round

This figure includes an equity investment from Dutch impact investment fund Pymwymic and non-dilutive financing from the Walloon Region via the Win4company programme. This financing follows on from the US$5.4mn in equity funding secured in November 2024 in a round led by Agri Investment Fund and VIVES partners.
 
The funding from the Walloon Region in particular will support the future development of BiocSol’s R&D platform. It will also help the start-up demonstrate proof of concept worldwide for its first two biofungicide products.

“With this new financing, we are on target with our US$10.2mn goal, the amount we need to really fast-track our development work. It also demonstrates, once again, that our commitment to providing farmers worldwide with access to sustainable and more effective biosolutions is the right one,” said Denis Payen, CEO of BiocSol. “We are thrilled to welcome Pymwymic as an investor in BiocSol. Its support will accelerate our growth and empower us to integrate impact into our everyday lives, ensuring that our path remains relevant and transformative. Thanks to our new chairman of the board, Pierre Ferrand, and our dedicated team, we now have everything in place to write the next chapter in the BiocSol story.”
 
“We wish to thank the Walloon Region for supporting our start-up from the very beginning. Likewise, we are grateful to the Laboratory of Plant Pathology (SAVE), led by Anne Legrève and Claude Bragard, and the Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology (MIAE), headed up by Jacques Mahillon and Annika Gillis at UCLouvain; all have been instrumental in the creation and successful growth of BiocSol,” said Simon Caulier, CTO and founder of BiocSol.
 
“Given BiocSol’s strong biosolution pipeline and ability to develop microbial substances for a wide range of different crops, we believe that it has real potential to make a positive impact on the agricultural sector by providing farmers with alternative crop protection solutions at an affordable price,” said Pieter Vis, partner at Pymwymic. “We are proud to be part of a project with such great potential, well-respected co-investors and partners, and, of course, an expert team led by Denis Payen and Simon Caulier.”

OptiDry Compact X integrated at Triflor (tulip). (Image source: Bosman Van Zaal)

Bosman Van Zaal has been realising customised dehumidification solutions for customers since 2015, with their R&D department managing to translate these customised solutions into a series of dehumidifiers that are plug-and-play applicable for a wide range of crops and growing systems

Whether in high-tech climate chambers, growing potted plants or fruiting vegetable crops, the innovative OptiDry dehumidifiers can be implemented seamlessly in any cultivation system. The dehumidifiers used in horticulture typically operate with synthetic refrigerants that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions due to their high GWP (Global Warming Potential), with their sale within Europe planned to be phased out between 1 January 2025 and 1 January 2030.

Low-GWP refrigerants are also currently under fire in Europe due to the fact that these refrigerants contain PFAS. As a result, really only natural refrigerants are future-proof. That leaves only 3 applications: CO2, ammonia and propane. Bosman Van Zaal sees R290 (propane) as the best and most sustainable solution.

The OptiDry series consists of two basic type dehumidifiers:

• The OptiDry Compact X: Designed to dry air very efficiently and can be easily connected to an existing or new chilled water or freecooling circuit by drycooling or basin water. The X stands for cross flow heat exchanger, which is integrated into the unit. Using this additional heat exchanger saves 30-50% on cooling capacity. It is connected to an outdoor unit (chiller or buffer) and is available in two different versions to suit every growing situation.

• The OptiDry Advanced DX: As one of the first dehumidifiers to use natural refrigerant R290 (propane), the Optidry Advanced DX offers lower energy consumption compared to synthetic refrigerant models. R290 (propane) is therefore not only highly efficient and environmentally friendly, but also future-proof in contrast to synthetic refrigerants. These units can be easily installed in greenhouses or added to existing plant growth chambers for improved dehumidification.

Some of the notable features of the OptiDry range include compact design, lightweight models, high-efficiency dehumidification capacity, presence of the environmentally friendly and future-proof refrigerant R-290 (propane), availability of airsock, and easy integration and connection to new  or existing chilled water systems.

Bayer aims to support a total of 100 million smallholder farmers in LMICs by 2030. (Image source: Bayer)

Bayer Foundation and the Pula Foundation today announced at World Economic Forum that they are planning to provide insurance coverage for 10 million smallholder farmers by 2030

The collaboration aims to enhance climate resilience among smallholder farmers, protecting them against the growing impacts of droughts and floods, which threaten harvests, livelihoods, and global food security. It will help build private-public collaborations and shape the insurance market for agriculture in Africa and Asia.

The Pula Foundation has developed scalable and data-driven agricultural insurance solutions designed to safeguard smallholder farmers' investments in their farms. By mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, the Pula Foundation ensures that farmers receive financial compensation for yield losses, enabling them to recover, reinvest, and build long-term resilience in the face of climate uncertainty. 

By 2030, Bayer Foundation’s grant for insurance premium support in the amount of 10 million euros – supported by a donation from Bayer’s Crop Science Division – will unlock a potential insurance coverage of 127 million US dollars for 10 million farmers working with national governments in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Mali. The grant originates from Bayer Foundation’s Social Innovation Ecosystem Fund which targets mature and high-impact solutions for underserved communities.

Bayer aims to support a total of 100 million smallholder farmers in LMICs by 2030 by improving their access to agricultural products and services. This also includes collaborations with partners. To achieve this, Bayer strives to create market models that generate benefits and reduce business risks for all partners in the value chain, including smallholder farmers.

Philippines’ agri attachés boost exports, secure market access, and strengthen international partnerships in key Asian markets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

In 2024, the Department of Agriculture (DA) achieved significant milestones, thanks to the efforts of agricultural attachés stationed in key markets across Asia

Their work has played a critical role in boosting the Philippines’ agricultural exports and fostering international partnerships

“By securing tens of billions of pesos in export sales, these accomplishments support our agriculture and fisheries sector and contribute to narrowing the trade deficit. Our attachés also fortified bilateral and multilateral ties, benefiting millions of Filipino farmers and fishers,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.

In China, DA Counsellor Jerome Bunyi was instrumental in the Philippines' successful participation at the China International Import Expo, where 17 exhibitors generated an estimated USD 1.6 billion in sales and sales pledges. Popular Filipino products like bananas, durian, pineapples, and coconuts saw strong demand, underscoring the growing interest in Philippine agricultural products.

In Japan, DA attaché Maria Alilia Maghirang successfully secured market access for Philippine Hass avocados and facilitated access for other products like bananas, pineapples, and mangoes. She also led Philippine promotional activities at FOODEX Japan 2024 and the International Seafood Show Tokyo 2024, generating over P361 million in sales.

In South Korea, DA attaché Lev Nikko Macalintal was crucial in the establishment of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industrial Complex in Cabanatuan, aimed at boosting local agricultural productivity. At Seoul Food 2024, he also facilitated sales worth P297.27 million.

In Vietnam, DA attaché Annalyn Lopez helped secure market access for four Philippine fishery establishments, expanded durian markets in Malaysia, and facilitated the Philippines' participation in the Thaifex ANUGA 2024 trade show, which generated over P5 billion in sales.