How Seipasa and Valent BioSciences Are Shaping the Next Chapter of Biostimulant Innovation
23 de dezembro de 2025 Seipasa is strengthening its foothold in the U.S. biologicals market through a new partnership with Valent BioSciences — a move the company says marks a major milestone in its global expansion strategy.
In recent interview with AgriBusiness Global (ABG), José Ángel Talavera, Seipasa Chief Commercial Officer, and Francisco Espinosa, Chief Research Officer, discuss how the collaboration advances biostimulant adoption, the science behind Seipasa’s precision-based approach, and the regulatory and market trends shaping the future of the sector.
They also share insights on product differentiation, including the metabolic mode of action behind Sweetsei, and outline why regulatory alignment and scientific rigor will be critical to accelerating farmer confidence in biological solutions.
ABG: How does partnering with Valent BioSciences strengthen Seipasa’s strategy for expanding biostimulant adoption in the U.S. market?
José Ángel Talavera: This agreement with Valent BioSciences marks a significant milestone in Seipasa’s international expansion, strengthening our presence in the highly demanding U.S. market. It reinforces our strategy by combining our innovation capabilities with the distribution strength of a global industry leader.
Within our current roadmap, biostimulants have taken on a strategic, central role alongside our biocontrol portfolio. As the market undergoes rapid transformation, biostimulants are shifting from secondary product lines to a primary driver of our future growth. Our commitment is evident in the company’s focused efforts to secure European biostimulant registrations. Seizen is the first of our products to achieve this milestone, and it will not be the last.
Partnerships of this caliber validate our technology and enable us to scale globally, ensuring our solutions reach and support more growers around the world.
ABG: How did this partnership happen? What tips do you have for other companies looking to create a partnership like this?
JÁT: This collaboration emerged after extensive discussions between both teams and a clear identification of strategic synergies between the companies. Initial contact dates back 10 years, and we have long viewed each other as organizations naturally aligned. After numerous conversations, conferences, events, and meetings, both Valent and Seipasa recognized the other as a strategic partner that shares a common vision for agriculture and its most pressing needs.
For Valent, Seipasa represents natural technology supported by scientific rigor. For Seipasa, Valent has always stood for leadership, development, and global reference. A strong alignment in corporate values further accelerated the partnership.
My advice to other companies is to pursue growth without sacrificing their identity. Seipasa shows that it is possible to maintain an independent strategy — as a 100% privately owned, nonparticipating company — while forming alliances of this scale. The key is to engage in strategic agreements that support the growth of your solutions portfolio and enable efficient entry into new markets. It is essential to choose partners who expand your reach while respecting your autonomy and business model.
ABG: What differentiates Sweetsei from other biostimulants currently used in specialty crop production, particularly in terms of mode of action and measurable outcomes?
Francisco Espinosa: The differentiation of Sweetsei lies in Seipasa’s R&D approach, which goes beyond applying common raw materials. The strategy focuses on metabolic precision — identifying the specific biochemical needs of the crop at each phenological stage.
Instead of expending energy to synthesize necessary compounds, the plant absorbs the metabolic substrates required for a given pathway. This saves energy that becomes available for other essential functions.
In the case of Sweetsei for maturation, the product provides a high amount of methionine, which directly supports ethylene synthesis. This allows the plant to conserve the energy it would otherwise use to produce these substrates and redirect it toward fruit bulking and quality. The result is scientific rigor comparable to that of an active substance, maximizing sugar levels (Brix degrees) and improving harvest uniformity.
ABG: As demand for biological inputs grows, what role does Seipasa see regulatory alignment and scientific validation playing in accelerating market acceptance?
JÁT: We believe biostimulants will increasingly be commercialized based on technical sophistication and proven performance rather than price alone — a shift from the segment’s earlier focus. Price still matters, but it is becoming secondary to efficacy and efficiency. Profitability depends on both, and at Seipasa, we define efficiency as the balance of efficacy and profitability. Delivering that efficiency for growers is one of our core priorities.
In Europe, the EU Regulation 2019/1009 reflects this transition, pushing the market toward rigorous, innovation-driven solutions, yet our experience shows that scientific progress often moves far faster than regulatory processes. This gap is especially clear in biological biocontrol registrations, where requirements mirror those for chemical active substances, resulting in long delays. Growers ultimately bear the cost, losing timely access to sustainable tools.
Our solutions are not meant to replace withdrawn products — they are fundamentally different — but to complement existing tools within integrated, sustainable crop protection strategies. The combined use of chemical and biological inputs is shaping the sector’s new paradigm.
Salman Mir, presidente e CEO da Valent BioSciences, e Pedro Peleato, CEO da Seipasa.
For this reason, Seipasa CEO Pedro Peleato is helping lead a Europe-wide initiative to establish a distinct regulatory framework for biocontrol products. This change is essential for the entire industry, enabling faster market access for innovative, environmentally responsible solutions and aligning regulation with scientific progress and the needs of sustainable agriculture.
ABG: What key trends in global biostimulant use are shaping Seipasa’s R&D priorities?
FE: A major trend guiding Seipasa’s R&D is the move toward specialization and precision over broad, generalist solutions. This requires a metabolic approach — understanding what the plant is producing and where it is directing energy at each stage, from flowering to fruit set to maturation.
Rather than relying on one-size-fits-all raw materials, we target specific metabolic pathways to deliver precise, effective responses. This strategy ensures that each product, from biocontrols to biostimulants, addresses the crop’s exact needs and elevates biostimulants to a core, strategic focus for the company.
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