French Consortium Launches €3 Million Project to Develop Biological Tomato Crop Protection Solutions
A French consortium of excellence, bringing together Gene&GreenTK, Lipofabrik (Eléphant Vert Group), INRAE, and Enigma, has joined forces to develop a new generation of sustainable biosolutions for tomato crop protection.
“BIOSPHÆRE embodies a new generation of biological solutions capable of addressing the agricultural, environmental, and industrial challenges of tomorrow,” said David Daudé, CEO, Gene&GreenTK.
“BIOSPHÆRE goes beyond delivering a product. It provides practical solutions to help tomato growers manage uncertainty and operate their crops in a more stable and reliable way,” said Luc Maertens, Chief Strategy & Portfolio Officer Lipofabrik – Eléphant Vert Group.
KEY FIGURES
- Program: France 2030 – Regionalized i-Demo Program (Interregional Partnership between Sud Region and Hauts-de-France Region)
- Project Duration: 36 months
- Period: January 2026 – December 2028
- Total Consortium Budget: €3 million
- Public Funding: €1.5 million
- Number of Partners: 4
- Project Coordinator: Gene&GreenTK
- Locations: Sud Region and Hauts-de-France Region, France
BACKGROUND
In response to environmental and regulatory challenges associated with reducing the use of conventional plant protection products, BIOSPHÆRE aims to develop and evaluate new alternative biological substances capable of providing effective and sustainable crop protection. The project will primarily focus on tomato crops, a strategic sector for the Sud Region due to its economic importance, strong national and local demand, and the increasing phytosanitary challenges faced by the industry.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims to provide sustainable protection for tomato crops against the main pests and diseases affecting production, including insect pests as well as bacterial and fungal diseases.
TECHNOLOGIES
The solutions developed within the BIOSPHÆRE project will be based on innovative biological approaches combining:
- Antimicrobial enzymes;
- Biocontrol lipopeptides;
- Biocontrol microorganisms; and
- Natural antifungal substances.
The program will be structured around several successive phases, ranging from the production and formulation of active substances to advanced field trials under real-world conditions. It will also address industrial scale-up, economic viability, and regulatory compliance.
IMPACTS
The BIOSPHÆRE project aims to contribute to:
- Reducing the use of chemical pesticides;
- Developing high-performance and sustainable biological alternatives for farmers;
- Strengthening food sovereignty; and
- Accelerating the agroecological transition of agricultural production in the Sud Region and beyond.
BIOSPHÆRE CONSORTIUM
Gene&GreenTK (Marseille) — Project Coordinator
An innovative startup specializing in the development of antimicrobial enzymes for environmental, health, and agricultural applications. Gene&GreenTK will contribute its expertise in the development of innovative antimicrobial enzymes, as well as in the production and optimization of candidate active substances.
Lipofabrik – Eléphant Vert Group (Lesquin)
A company specialized in the development and production of biosolutions based on lipopeptides and microorganisms for more sustainable agriculture. Lipofabrik – Eléphant Vert Group will contribute to the development, formulation, and industrial scale-up of lipopeptides and biocontrol biosolutions derived from microbial biotechnology.
INRAE –Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Centre (Avignon)
A leading research center notably working on Mediterranean agroecology, agricultural adaptation to climate change, and plant-pathogen interactions. The INRAE Avignon Plant Pathology Research Unit will lead the scientific evaluation of candidate solutions through its recognized expertise in plant pathology, Mediterranean agroecology, and plant-pathogen interactions.
Enigma (Beaumes-de-Venise)
A service laboratory specializing for more than 20 years in phytopharmaceutical testing on crop insect pests. Enigma will conduct experimental trials on insect pests and contribute to validating the performance of the solutions under conditions representative of agricultural use.
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