Janssen PMP’s Geoffroy de Chabot-Tramecourt Discusses Innovative Crop Harvesting
24 November 2025 AgriBusiness Global recently spoke with Geoffroy de Chabot-Tramecourt, General Manager of Janssen PMP (Preservation and Material Protection), a division of Johnson and Johnson, about his new position with the company and his plans for the future. Chabot-Tramecourt is replacing Joan Jørgensen, who has served as General Manager since 2012 and will retire March 31, 2026. Focusing on the company’s crop management activity, Chabot-Tramecourt discusses global strategies, regional crops, and the future of biologicals.
ABG: As the company’s new General Manager, what strategies would you like to continue? What new strategies should we be expecting?
Geoffroy de Chabot-Tramecourt (GCT): We operate in a somewhat different market from most agricultural input companies because we don’t sell to farmers, we sell to packhouses. Our products are applied to fruits after harvest. Consumers eat more fruit year-round, so the industry must be supported to keep fruits fresh, healthy, and in good condition.
Our key crops are pome fruits, citrus, bananas, avocados, and a few other fresh produce items. Globally, trade in these fruits is rising each year, so the market is expanding. Post-harvest pressure to limit synthetic chemicals is higher because these treatments occur closest to the consumer.
For our strategy, the main driver is bringing innovation to this market because there is a real need. We must protect the growing volumes of fruit traded globally and contribute to reducing waste, which requires thinking outside the box.
We operate in a highly regulated market. All our products are registered in the countries of origin where they’re applied, but we also need to have the corresponding MRLs (maximum residue limits) in destination countries for these treated crops. To optimize residue levels on fresh produce, we are improving our application methods.
Our goal is to optimize the amount of active ingredients used per ton of fruit while maintaining the same level of protection. We are pursuing various technologies and innovations to achieve this, including a technology capable of reducing pathogen loads in the packhouse.
ABG: What is your perspective on implementing biological products?
GCT: When we talk about naturals or biologicals, those products are the future. Biological products require more precise monitoring, as many are currently less effective than conventional synthetic chemicals. It’s important they are used correctly, so education is needed.
There are several highly effective active substances, which makes it difficult for biologicals to compete with these low-cost, highly effective technologies. Today, the value of biologicals is greatest in markets like Europe, where the pressure to reduce synthetic chemicals is the highest.
However, in Europe, biologicals are regulated the same as other pesticides and require a full data package. Registration can take years. Another reason for the slower pace of innovation is that the post-harvest market is much smaller than the pre-harvest market. We must always evaluate business cases before advancing an innovation. That said, biologicals will be part of the solution to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.
ABG: What regions does your company expect the most growth in 2026 and why?
GCT: The post-harvest business is global and dynamic. We target crops rather than regions. For example, citrus exportation is growing in countries like South Africa and Egypt, while in the U.S. and Spain it is more stable. We also see positive trends in the avocado market, with more avocado trees being planted. In the U.S., per capita consumption is about 4 kilograms per year, while in Europe it is around 1.6 kg per person per year. There is still room for growth.
Consider where these avocados are treated and exported. Mexico is the top exporter, with about 1.1 million tons exported annually.
ABG: Is your company looking for partners with universities, smaller biological startups, or both? What kind of partnerships are you looking for?
GCT: Both. We are pursuing partnerships with companies and partners that are near to or already on the pre-harvest market. Such partners are interested in extending the use of biologicals or other innovations into this specific post-harvest niche market.
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