Biotalys Taps 21st.BIO to Scale Next-Gen Crop Protection

GHENT, BELGIUM – January 23, 2026 – In a significant move to accelerate the path from laboratory to farm, agricultural technology company Biotalys has entered into a strategic partnership with Danish precision fermentation specialist 21st.BIO. The collaboration aims to enable cost-effective, industrial-scale production of Biotalys’s innovative protein-based biocontrols, a critical step as the company eyes the commercial launch of its flagship biofungicide, EVOCA™ NG.

This partnership marks a pivotal moment for Biotalys, which is developing a new class of crop protection products based on its proprietary AGROBODY™ platform. By leveraging 21st.BIO's advanced fermentation technology, the Belgian firm intends to overcome one of the biggest hurdles for biotech startups: scaling production to a level that can compete with conventional chemical pesticides on both price and volume. The announcement, however, is coupled with the reality of a finite cash runway, highlighting the high-stakes journey of bringing next-generation agricultural solutions to a global market.

A Strategic Pivot in Manufacturing

The collaboration centers on 21st.BIO’s precision fermentation platform, which is built on production strains refined over four decades and includes technology licensed from the global bioscience leader, Novonesis. For Biotalys, this partnership is designed to streamline and de-risk the complex process of scaling up the production of the unique proteins that form the active ingredient in its biocontrols.

“This partnership marks an important strategic step in strengthening the technical backbone of our AGROBODY platform,” said Kevin Helash, CEO of Biotalys. “By combining 21st.BIO’s proven fermentation expertise with our own innovation in protein-based biocontrols, we are reinforcing the foundation needed to support a growing and differentiated product portfolio.”

Notably, this new agreement coincides with the conclusion of a previous collaboration between Biotalys and Novonesis. In March 2024, the two companies had announced a long-term agreement that positioned Novonesis as the global manufacturing and distribution partner for EVOCA NG. The shift to 21st.BIO, which itself is a technology licensee of Novonesis, represents a strategic evolution. It suggests a move toward a more specialized technology partner focused purely on accelerating process development and industrial upscaling, rather than a broader manufacturing and distribution deal.

Helash acknowledged the importance of the prior work, stating, “Our collaboration with Novonesis and its relationship to 21st.BIO were critical in unlocking this next step toward advancing our first commercial product, EVOCA™ NG, and other products in our pipeline toward commercialisation.”

21st.BIO, founded in 2020, has built its business model on helping companies bridge the gap from promising research to market-ready products. “We are proud to help Biotalys reduce production costs and increase speed to market with our leading precision fermentation technology,” stated Thomas Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of 21st.BIO. “Our collaboration will ensure that powerful protein-based biocontrols like EVOCA NG become a sustainable, and cost-effective option for growers around the globe.”

The Race Against the Financial Clock

While the technological pathway is becoming clearer, the financial runway is sharply in focus. Biotalys confirmed its current cash reserves will fund operations into May 2026. With the projected launch of EVOCA NG still several years away—foreseen for 2028-29 in the U.S. and 2029-30 in the E.U.—securing additional capital is now a top priority.

The company has stated it is considering additional financing, potentially through an equity raise from institutional investors, to fund the final push to commercialization. This is not unfamiliar territory for the Euronext-listed firm. In October 2024, Biotalys successfully raised EUR 15 million through a private placement of new shares, a move that shored up its finances and funded crucial field trials and regulatory activities. The participation of existing major shareholders in that round signaled investor confidence, a sentiment the company will hope to replicate as it seeks the substantial capital required for a global product launch.

This partnership with 21st.BIO is therefore a calculated move to make the company a more attractive investment. By demonstrating a clear and cost-effective plan for manufacturing at scale, Biotalys strengthens its business case and mitigates a key risk factor for potential investors.

EVOCA NG: A Protein-Powered Solution for Modern Farming

At the heart of this strategy is EVOCA NG, a biofungicide designed to give fruit and vegetable growers a powerful new tool against pervasive fungal diseases like Botrytis (grey mold) and powdery mildew. The product emerges from Biotalys’s AGROBODY™ platform, which creates highly specific, protein-based agents that can target pests and diseases with high efficacy while boasting a favorable safety and environmental profile.

A major breakthrough occurred on December 2, 2025, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved EVOCA, the first-generation version of the product. This was a landmark decision, marking the first approval for a protein-based biofungicide of its kind in the United States. Because EVOCA NG contains the same active ingredient, Biotalys anticipates a significantly shorter regulatory review process for its next-generation product, providing a clearer timeline for market entry.

In the European Union, the first-generation product has also entered the peer review phase, with the Netherlands as the rapporteur member state proposing its approval. These regulatory milestones are essential for unlocking a combined target market in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil estimated to be worth approximately USD 1.2 billion.

Navigating a Booming Biocontrols Market

Biotalys is entering a rapidly expanding field. The global market for biological crop protection is projected to exceed $15 billion by 2029, driven by regulatory pressure on chemical pesticides, growing consumer demand for sustainably produced food, and farmers' need for new tools to manage resistance. Within this market, biofungicides represent a nearly $5 billion opportunity.

By pioneering a new mode of action with its protein-based technology, Biotalys is carving out a distinct niche. The company's goal is to offer solutions that provide the performance and reliability of synthetic chemicals without the associated environmental and health concerns. The partnership with 21st.BIO is the linchpin in the strategy to prove that this innovative biological approach can be delivered at the scale and cost necessary to compete head-on with incumbents. With the technology partnership secured and regulatory pathways clearing, Biotalys's next major challenge is to secure the financial resources needed to bring its vision for a safer, more sustainable food chain from the lab to the field.