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.”

New varietal development is a further area where growers are looking to gain an edge. (Image source: South African Stone Fruit)

The South African stone fruit industry led by Hortgro, is accelerating the adoption of new technologies and innovative growing practices to take production to the next level

The industry is driving forward a wide range of research projects designed to make production more efficient, address the challenges of climate change, and boost output of high-quality fruit. The extent of the industry’s efforts to take production to the next level are underlined by the fact that Hortgro has a dedicated division that is focused on identifying key research areas, funding projects and seeking collaborative opportunities with both local and international research groups. It supports programmes across a range of areas from production through to crop protection and post-harvest technology, and produces reports, training videos, seminars and webinars to help growers with continual improvement.

Recent initiatives have included putting up netting on farms to increase yields and improve fruit quality, installing solar panels to tackle energy shortages, adopting new technologies for quality management in the packhouse, using drones for precision farming, and investing in water-saving and irrigation-management measures such as low flow drip irrigation, mulching, water probesand new pumping systems. 

Collaboration with growers is at the heart of Hortgro’s approach to research and development. “Our job is to create an enabling environment,” said Jacques du Preez, general manager of trade and markets. “We do that through research into innovation and technology, as well as assisting growers in obtaining market access and creating trade opportunities for them.”

Among the various initiatives, an ongoing project called The Orchard of the Future is aimed at enabling greater operational efficiency, improving fruit production, reducing wastage, and showcasing potential new strategies and technologies that can reduce risk.

Hortgro also plays its part in the Post-Harvest Innovation (PHI) Programme, which is a public-private partnership between the Department of Science and Innovation andvarious fruit industries through the Fresh Produce Exporter’s Forum. The programme aims to create a culture of innovation by providing funding opportunities to projects filling technology gaps in the horticultural export value chain. 

Currently in its fifth phase – which runs until June 2026 – four research projects are being carried out to find solutions to industry challenges, with an emphasis on participation from historically disadvantaged individuals. Current research projects include ultra-low oxygen and nitric oxide treatment for pests in pome and stone fruit, and the commercial potential of ethyl formate fumigation, which is regarded as a promising post-harvest treatment for external pests. Recently completed projects, meanwhile, have sought scientific solutions to broken stones in plums and moisture loss in nectarines, among other things. 

New varietal development is a further area where growers are looking to gain an edge. Pierre Rossouw, technical manager at leading supplier Stems, said the company has access to as many as 13 different breeding programmes from around the world to ensure it has the best varieties for each particular product throughout the season. 

“As we have such a diverse climate, you need certain genetics that will be adaptable to each specific region,” he added. “If you plant the right variety on the right rootstock in the right area, you can grow a very good product. That’s the whole aim, and how we want to distinguish ourselves from the competition and supply our customers with the best possible product in a specific window.”

The ACIAR delegates with IITA staff after the partnership deliberation meeting. (Image source: IITA)

The partnership between IITA and Australia holds immense potential for shaping the future of climate-smart agriculture in Africa

In line with the African-Australian partnership that was announced in October 2024, delegates from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) visited the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on 21 January

The delegates toured IITA to observe ongoing research, scaling efforts, partnerships, and the delivery of innovative food solutions to African communities. Their primary objective was to gather insights and experiences to inform the development of a framework for delivering climate-smart and sustainable food systems in North and West Africa.

The delegation was keen to understand how IITA collaborates with national partners and agricultural research institutions to deliver impactful solutions to farmers and end-users. IITA’s deputy director general for Partnerships and Delivery, Kenton Dashiell, highlighted the Australian Government’s contributions to IITA’s work and emphasised the importance of strengthening collaborations to drive research and agricultural development across Africa. 

“Our partnership with Australia has been vital in addressing agricultural challenges across the continent. However, there is a need to deepen intellectual, research, and scaling partnerships to achieve greater impact," remarked Dashiell.

During discussions, IITA proposed technical assistance to support youth agenda and agribusiness initiatives. The delegation learned about the Youth in Agribusiness (IYA) initiative, which focuses on engaging young people in agriculture by equipping them with technologies developed by IITA and other CGIAR centers. This initiative aims to empower youth to take an active role in transforming agriculture across Africa.

The delegation also gained insights into the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme. This cross-country, multi-commodity system deploys ready-to-scale technologies to farmers across the continent. TAAT has introduced over 150 technologies across 10 key commodities so far, supported by enabler compacts in policy, youth engagement, and capacity building. Through collaborations with African governments, regional bodies, private sectors, and research institutions, TAAT has created jobs, improved livelihoods, and promoted environmental sustainability.

As part of their visit, the delegation toured IITA’s cutting-edge facilities. These included the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) facility, where the Rapid Multiplication Technology for cassava seeds revolutionises seed production. They also visited the Germplasm Health Unit and Genetic Resources Centre, where IITA ensures the delivery of clean, healthy, and high-quality seeds to farmers.

At the Cassava Processing Unit, the visitors saw firsthand how value addition to cassava roots enhances income generation and improves food security. These innovations reflect IITA’s commitment to addressing Africa’s food challenges through science and technology.

“The next phase of African-Australian investment will mainly extend ACIAR’s decade-long expertise and work in East and Southern Africa to North and West Africa – particularly Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ghana,” said O’Brien. 

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.