Recorded live at the Pitch Perfect Bioeconomy event in Brussels, this episode features Bart Walcarius, Head of Technology Integration at Biotalys, on what it really takes to scale protein-based crop protection
Biotalys is developing biodegradable, protein-based biocontrols as an alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. The twist? Their technology is built on unique single-chain antibodies derived from camels and llamas, engineered into highly specific proteins that target crop pests and diseases with precision.
We talk about:
Why cost of goods is everything in agriculture
Competing with ultra-cheap chemical pesticides
Building high-performing production strains via precision fermentation
Scaling from lab to pilot with Biobase Europe
The importance of early manufacturing partnerships
Why regulatory approval can make or break the timeline
A major milestone: the US EPA has issued a proposed registration decision to approve their first biofungicide, EVOCA, a huge step toward entering the US market, potentially by 2028.
But as Bart makes clear, scaling bio-based innovation in agriculture isn’t fast. It’s months and years of strain development, process optimization, regulatory work, and building trust with manufacturing partners.
The key lesson? Start partnerships early. Build the right multidisciplinary team. And be patient, because real scale takes time.
If you’re working at the intersection of biotech and agriculture, this will give you valuable insights on what it means to move from platform to product to field.
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