Syngenta and Amoéba partner to launch in Europe new bio-fungicide for wheat and field crops by 2026

Syngenta Crop Protection and France-based Amoéba have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and commercialize biological crop protection products in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The companies aim to finalize a distribution agreement by spring 2026.

The partnership centers on a new bio-fungicide derived from the lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky. According to the companies, trials have shown the candidate’s efficacy against major fungal pathogens in cereals while also helping to activate plant defence mechanisms. The product is designed to support integrated crop management strategies as growers face rising resistance to conventional chemistries and fewer available crop protection tools.

The initial commercial focus will be wheat, targeting septoria tritici blotch and yellow rust — two diseases that together affect an estimated 9–12 million hectares annually across Europe and the UK. Industry and academic assessments indicate that septoria alone can reduce yields by 5–50% in Germany, resulting in annual losses of approximately €1.5 billion. Yellow rust can cut yields by 10–70% and may result in total crop loss in susceptible varieties.

Matthew Pickard, Syngenta’s Head of Seedcare and Biologicals for Europe, said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to advancing next-generation biological solutions for farmers.

Amoéba executives Benoit Villers and Jean-François Doucet described the agreement as a milestone for the company, noting that it combines Amoéba’s scientific platform with Syngenta’s experience in cereal protection and market access. Founded in 2010, Amoéba developed its patented biocontrol technology using Willaertia magna lysate, which received the Bernard Blum Gold Medal in 2025 for innovation in biocontrol. The active substance secured EU approval in June 2025 following an EFSA assessment, and product-level authorizations are underway.