A natural breakthrough in protecting cereals and field crops

Core Insights - Syngenta and Amoéba SA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and commercialize biocontrol solutions for the EU and UK markets, focusing on cereals and field crops [3][4] - The partnership aims to address the challenge of increasing pest resistance and provide sustainable farming solutions [3][4] - The initial focus will be on combating major wheat diseases, specifically septoria tritici blotch and yellow rust, which significantly impact wheat yields and incur substantial economic losses [4] Company Overview - Syngenta is a global leader in agricultural innovation, committed to developing technologies that empower farmers and enhance sustainability [7] - Amoéba, founded in 2010, specializes in biocontrol applications using amoebae and aims to be a major player in microbiological risk treatment [8][9] - Amoéba's biocontrol solution, based on the amoeba Willaertia magna, received EU approval in 2025 and was awarded the Bernard Blum Gold Medal for its potential [5][9] Market Impact - The collaboration is expected to enhance the sustainability of farming practices and provide relief to farmers facing a shrinking toolbox of crop protection technologies [3][4] - In Germany, septoria tritici blotch causes yield losses of 5-50%, resulting in annual costs of €1.5 billion, while yellow rust can reduce yields by 10-70% [4] - The biocontrol market is increasingly important as farmers seek alternatives to chemical products due to rising pest resistance [9]