Daniela Maia

Geoffroy Moulin

In 2011, Staphyt, the international contract research organization, created the BioTeam to focus on the study of biopesticides and biostimulants by bringing together agronomists, scientists, and regulatory experts specializing in these products.

AgriBusiness Global spoke with Staphyt’s Daniela Maia, Brazil Regulatory Affairs Director and Geoffroy Moulin, BioTeam Manager and Regulatory Affairs BDM in Europe to find out how to accelerate market entry for biologicals and how companies should be strategizing when developing a new biological product. Here are Maia and Moulin’s top three tips in how to successfully bring biologicals to market.

Understand your company’s product

Many challenges are faced when we talk about the biologicals market. Whether our clients want to register or test a biopesticide, a biostimulant, a biocontrol product, anticipation and understanding are key.

Each kind of substance has highlights to consider from characterization to stability. Staphyt’s experts help to trigger the right questions and fully understand the nature of the compound, the mode of action, and even determine the area in which the product will be offered.

Our teams also help to raise technical questions: What is the risk of the substance?

Even a biological product can present risks, but the nature of the substance does not always allow us to identify the risk. It is important to raise these technical obstacles in the development of the project, in order to determine the necessary studies.

Identify future trends to position your company’s product

Companies are well advised to be in contact with bodies and associations such as the Biocontrol Coalition, IBMA International, EBIC, CropLife Brazil, BPIA and so on, to identify future trends and developments.

Organizations such as S&P Global or Dunham Trimmer regularly produce reports on market trends, by crop or by geographical area.

All of this helps to have an overall view of the global market and future trends, so companies can position their project in the best possible way.

When strategizing, think globally

Today, it’s important to think about a project on a global scale. Penetration rates are different from one continent to another, and sales values are different. It’s the balance between the added value of sales in a given market and the investment required to penetrate that market that needs to be taken into account.

It’s a real global approach, taking into account the regulatory requirements of each country and the product development costs.

We ensure that our clients share this global understanding of regulatory requirements to guarantee that the necessary data production for the submission of a dossier corresponds to the requirements of all the targeted regions. In this way, we help to rationalize budgets, by avoiding a multiplication of studies to be produced.

Staphyt has contributed to the development of numerous products and active substances such as natural extracts, microbial agents and semio-chemicals, representing the main plant protection and nutrition products on the market today. Based in Europe, Brazil and the U.S., Staphyt teams have an extensive knowledge of the regulations in these geographical areas. Together with our representatives in China, India and North America, our experts support our clients in their regulatory projects.