Science
Fyteko’s expertise lies in it’s R&D and scientific knowledge and background.
Biomolecule science: the science of biopossible
At Fyteko, we’re not just guided by science. We’re creating the science.
Ours is a science inspired by nature. If you know where to look, nature often has its own solution. And in our case, nature’s helping us turn the world of crop protection products on its head.
In developing our products, we went back to square one: what would nature do?
We found our answer in signal molecules. More than just Fyteko’s first commercial product, it’s also a first in biobased agricultural technology: the first biostimulant with a patent that fully defines its mode of action.
We’re not just calling for a new chapter in crop protection. We’re writing it.
Our science in action
As the leading developer of bio-based agricultural molecules, our biomolecule development pipeline comprises Six Steps to Success:
Research
Identify compounds with an ability to trigger specific plant metabolic processes.
IP
When our research team discovers a molecule with potential in biostimulant science, we protect our intellectual property through appropriate patent protections.
Research
Identify compounds with an ability to trigger specific plant metabolic processes.
IP
When our research team discovers a molecule with potential in biostimulant science, we protect our intellectual property through appropriate patent protections.
(Bio)Synthesis
Our ‘green’ chemistry uses pure monomers and enzymes to produce the biomolecules as specific active compounds suitable for use as biostimulants, herbicide bioenhancers or other biocontrol products.
Bioactivity validation
This important step in agricultural biomolecule formulation comprises laboratory analysis and plant trials, testing the pure active to assess effectiveness, efficacy and other parameters.
(Bio)Synthesis
Our ‘green’ chemistry uses pure monomers and enzymes to produce the biomolecules as specific active compounds suitable for use as biostimulants, herbicide bioenhancers or other biocontrol products.
Bioactivity validation
This important step in agricultural biomolecule formulation comprises laboratory analysis and plant trials, testing the pure active to assess effectiveness, efficacy and other parameters
Formulation
Biomolecule formulation science is as important as it is in conventional crop protection products. Fyteko’s in-house biomolecule formulation team creates mixtures both for candidate molecule testing and market-ready products.
Validation
Field trials of the most promising biostimulant molecules take place at our official trials site, within our distributors’ sites and in on-farm trials.
Formulation
Biomolecule formulation science is as important as it is in conventional crop protection products. Fyteko’s in-house biomolecule formulation team creates mixtures both for candidate molecule testing and market-ready products.
Validation
Field trials of the most promising biostimulant molecules take place at our official trials site, within our distributors’ sites and in on-farm trials.
On completion of our Six Steps, our new agricultural biomolecule is ready for the market.
Behind the science
Fyteko is not the only company working in agricultural biomolecules. But we are the only company working to develop this branch of biostimulant science.
Conventional biostimulant products rely on a mix of active ingredients, often associated with nutrition. While ingredients such as amino acids are relatively well-understood, others – like humic acids, or various seaweed extracts – are less so, making it difficult to truly assess their efficacy and consistency in different circumstances of abiotic stress.
Very few companies take the approach to define biostimulant products on a single active ingredient. Even fewer follow the route of identifying and synthesising bio-based molecules as the active biostimulant ingredient.
But this is Fyteko’s strength. Our first specialisation to reach the market involves hydroxycinnamic acid derivative oligomers. Signal molecules found only in plants, increasingly they are recognised as a class of phytochemicals with widespread potential, with applications not only in agriculture but in human health too.
After discovering their ability to protect crops against abiotic stress, Fyteko filed the original patent (back in 2015) covering the composition and use of these compounds in biostimulant science.
Fyteko is the only company working on this signal molecule approach and we are the only company working with these compounds in biostimulant development.
Research projects
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again. And it’s an important part of our company values: we value collaboration. As a focused R&D company, we are always responsive to new research projects and collaborative opportunities. Illustrating the point:
Rise: Back in 2014 – even before we had filed our first patent – Fyteko was recognised as one of Belgium’s most innovative start-ups. Our reward – a grant of €450,000 over three years – helped us to focus on our biostimulant innovation, taking us through formulation, IP protection, toxicological studies and registration for our first products.
Mycosign: Fyteko is working with a German partner to develop new and innovative biostimulants to support sustainable agriculture. MYCOSIGN hopes to harness the beneficial symbiotic actions of mycorrhizal fungi in parallel with a plant’s signalling molecules. Early indications suggest improvements in shoot and root growth, and nutrient uptake, reduced reliance on crop protection interventions, more robust abiotic stress resistance and increased water-use efficiency.
EIC Accelerator: Fyteko is proud to be amongst the companies supported by the EIC Accelerator programme (grant agreement 953636). Support from the EIC Accelerator programme has enabled Fyteko to further develop its biomolecule formulation for EU conformity; upscale its production process; and prepare for launch in the European market. As a result, NURSPRAY will become the market’s first and most effective CE-certified biostimulant.
Do we have your attention now?
If you’ve reached this point on the page, we’ve kept your interest. Do you have a research or development project on which to collaborate? The Fyteko team enjoys nothing more than sharing our vision of the biopossible and realising our ambitions for a more sustainable agriculture. We’d love to start a conversation about biostimulants, biomolecules, bio-based inputs, sustainable agriculture…
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