February 2025
Biocontrol uses substances, technologies, or mechanisms derived from nature to control insect pests, diseases, and weeds in agriculture and forestry. Biocontrol products generally fall into the following categories, depending on the “active ingredient” of each:
This article is one in a series providing case studies of biocontrol products that are on the market or under development in Europe.
A new biofungicide has been launched as the first biocontrol seed treatment to combat Take-all fungal disease in cereals within Europe. It contains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D747 bacteria, a strain proven in trials to provide effective protection against the disease. The product has been authorised for use in France on crops such as wheat, barley, spelt and triticale and awaits approval in Germany, Belgium, Czechia, Ireland and the UK.
The development of this biofungicide comes at a critical time as Take-all disease has been gradually increasing over the past 20 years and causes significant damage in cereal crops. Once primarily affecting crops under short cereal rotations, the disease is now “taking all” crops in spite of agricultural practices. Its impact is expected to worsen due to climate change.
The biological seed treatment is the first biocontrol product developed specifically for Take-all disease. It offers cereal growers a new tool to manage a critical disease while supporting more sustainable and eco-friendly farming practices. The biofungicide is also fully compatible with the industrial requirements of seed treatment partners, making it a practical option for large-scale agricultural use.
This case study was provided by Certis Belchim , a member of the Biocontrol Coalition.