BIOBESTicide · Project

Bio-Based Pesticide Protecting Vineyards from Trunk Diseases at Industrial Scale

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Grapevine trunk diseases are silently destroying vineyards worldwide — think of it like a slow rot that kills vines from the inside, and there's no good chemical fix. This project took a naturally occurring micro-organism (Pythium oligandrum) that essentially moves into the vine's roots and trains the plant's own immune system to fight back. They scaled up production from a lab bench to a demo factory capable of churning out more than 10 tons of this biological protector per year, using sugar industry leftovers (beet pulp and molasses) as feedstock. The end goal: a commercially viable, eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides that vineyard owners can actually buy and use.

By the numbers

10+ tons/year

Demo plant biopesticide production capacity

40-60%

Protection rate against Grapevine Trunk Diseases

30%

Potential ROI in 5 years

EUR 6,400,000+

Projected total EBITDA

EUR 3,069,653

EU contribution to the project

TRL4 to TRL7

Technology maturity advancement

The business problem

What needed solving

Grapevine Trunk Diseases are one of the major causes of worldwide vineyard destruction, and there are no effective chemical solutions available. Vineyard owners face progressive vine death, replanting costs, and declining yields with no approved biological alternative on the market. The wine industry needs an eco-friendly, cost-effective protection method that actually works at commercial scale.

The solution

What was built

A demonstration-scale production plant (TRL7) capable of producing more than 10 tons per year of an oomycete-based biopesticide using beet pulp and sugar molasses as feedstock. The team also prepared a full EU regulatory approval dossier for Pythium oligandrum strain I-5180 and validated field efficacy across multiple European vineyard regions.

Audience

Who needs this

Vineyard owners and wine producers losing vines to Grapevine Trunk DiseasesBiopesticide manufacturers looking for proven formulations to license or co-produceSugar beet processors seeking high-value uses for beet pulp and molasses by-productsAgricultural cooperatives in wine-producing regions seeking eco-friendly crop protectionCrop protection distributors expanding their biological product portfolio

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Viticulture & Wine Production

any

Target: Vineyard operators and wine producers facing vine loss from trunk diseases

If you are a vineyard operator losing vines to Grapevine Trunk Diseases — this project developed a bio-based treatment using Pythium oligandrum that provides 40% to 60% protection against GTDs. The product is produced from sugar industry by-products (beet pulp and molasses) at a demo plant capable of making more than 10 tons per year, and the team has prepared a full EU regulatory approval dossier.

Crop Protection & Agrochemicals

mid-size

Target: Biopesticide manufacturers and distributors looking for new product lines

If you are a crop protection company looking to expand into biological alternatives — this project demonstrated an industrial-scale production process for an oomycete-based biopesticide at TRL7, with a projected total EBITDA of more than EUR 6,400,000 and a potential ROI of 30% in just 5 years. The consortium includes 8 industry partners across 5 European countries, meaning distribution channels are partially built in.

Sugar & Food Processing

mid-size

Target: Sugar beet processors with surplus beet pulp and molasses seeking valorization opportunities

If you are a sugar processor sitting on mountains of beet pulp and molasses — this project turned those exact by-products into the feedstock for a high-value biopesticide production process. Instead of low-margin animal feed or disposal costs, your waste streams become the raw material for a product with a projected ROI of 30% in 5 years.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this biopesticide actually cost compared to chemical alternatives?

The project objective states a potential ROI of 30% in just 5 years and a total EBITDA of more than EUR 6,400,000, which suggests commercial viability. The use of low-cost feedstock (beet pulp and sugar molasses) is designed to keep production costs competitive. Based on available project data, specific per-unit pricing is not disclosed.

Can this be produced at industrial scale?

Yes. The project built a DEMO Plant capable of producing more than 10 tons of oomycete-based biopesticide product per year, moving from TRL4 (laboratory) to TRL7 (demonstration). The production process uses beet pulp and sugar molasses as sustainable biomass inputs.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The core technology — Pythium oligandrum strain I-5180 applied to vine root colonization — was developed by GREENCELL, the project coordinator (a French SME). Based on available project data, licensing terms are not publicly disclosed; interested parties would need to contact the coordinator directly.

Is this approved for use in EU countries?

The project prepared a full and complete approval dossier for Pythium oligandrum strain I-5180 for submission in all European countries. Based on available project data, the actual regulatory approval status after project end (October 2023) is not confirmed in the dataset.

How effective is this product in the field?

Field validation across different geographical areas showed that the Pythium oligandrum treatment provides protection ranging between 40% and 60% against Grapevine Trunk Diseases when applied at optimal time and concentration. The project validated this on vineyards in multiple European regions across 5 partner countries.

What is the project timeline and current status?

The project ran from May 2020 to October 2023 and is now closed. It was funded as an Innovation Action with EUR 3,069,653 in EU contribution, indicating the technology was expected to reach near-market readiness by project end.

Can this be used on crops other than grapevines?

Based on available project data, the demonstrated application is specifically for vine plant protection against Grapevine Trunk Diseases. The underlying mechanism (root colonization stimulating plant defences) could potentially apply to other crops, but no data on other applications is provided in this project.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium is heavily industry-driven: 8 out of 11 partners are industry players (73%), with 4 SMEs including the coordinator GREENCELL (France). The absence of universities is notable — this is not a research-heavy project but a scale-up and commercialization effort. Partners span 5 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland), covering major European wine-producing regions. With 2 research organizations providing scientific backbone and the rest focused on production, testing, and market access, this consortium was structured to bring a product to market, not to publish papers.

PNO CONSULTANTSthirdparty · FR
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATIONparticipant · ES
PNO INNOVATION SRLparticipant · IT
STOWARZYSZENIE ZACHODNIOPOMORSKI KLASTER CHEMICZNY ZIELONA CHEMIAparticipant · PL
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENTparticipant · FR
INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE LA VIGNE ET DU VINparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

GREENCELL is a French SME that coordinated this project. Contact them through the project website or SciTransfer for a warm introduction.

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Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing this biopesticide technology or connecting with the BIOBESTicide consortium? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the team behind it.

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