Biotalys: biological crop protection
Biotalys has become a true scale-up, preparing to take its first product to market.
Already in the very first capital round for fast-growing AgroSIn July 2019, Biotalys raised 35 million euros, including from existing investors such as PMV and Gimv, but also from Antwerp investment company Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH), which was investing in an agrotechnology company for the first time. It was the third capital round, the largest ever for the VIB spin-off. In 2016, the crop protection specialist raised 7.8 million euros after it had raised 5 million euros three years earlier. In the second capital round, Globachem came on board as a new shareholder, a Flemish multinational active in crop protection products. After the successful third capital round, AgroSavfe announced it was changing its name: the firm is now called Biotalys to further support its international growth avfe, six years ago, PMV was there. Even when capital was raised again in the summer of 2019, PMV was present. The Flemish investment company wants to be a partner for the Ghent-based specialist in crop protection, which not only launched the largest capital round ever but also changed its name and is now called Biotalys.
Biotech can help make the cultivation of fruit less dependent on chemicals
Ghent-based Biotalys, a spin-off of the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), is doing pioneering work in this area. It is developing biological pest control products with the ambition of making them as efficient as chemical ones, which should eliminate the price difference that exists today between organic or ordinary tomatoes (treated with chemical pesticides). Most of the existing biological pes control products still do not work as well as chemical ones, but under the impetus of Biotalys, a revolution in crop protection is imminent. Biotalys’ solutions are good for the environment, add more value to farmers’ products and meet consumer demand for healthier food.
Largest capital round ever
In July 2019, Biotalys raised 35 million euros, including from existing investors such as PMV and Gimv, but also from Antwerp investment company Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH), which was investing in an agrotechnology company for the first time. It was the third capital round, the largest ever for the VIB spin-off. In 2016, the crop protection specialist raised 7.8 million euros after it had raised 5 million euros three years earlier. In the second capital round, Globachem came on board as a new shareholder, a Flemish multinational active in crop protection products. After the successful third capital round, AgroSavfe announced it was changing its name: the firm is now called Biotalys to further support its international growth
United States
The funds from the latest capital round will mainly be used for the large-scale development of Biotalys’ products and to continue strengthening the company’s organisation. The launch of its first biofungicide is planned for 2022 in the US, through a newly established US subsidiary. A launch in Europe and other regions will immediately follow. “Since its inception, Biotalys has been supported by strong local and international investors, including PMV,” knows Chris De Jonghe, Group Manager Venture Capital at PMV. “We are happy to help support the further growth and development of the company. Biotalys has meanwhile become a true scale-up that is getting ready to bring its first product to the market independently, which obviously has particular social relevance.”
Visit the Biotalys website
