Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio symposium day in Lille: bringing expertise together to accelerate the development of biocontrol solutions
On 11 June 2026, the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio, part of the Interreg VI FWVL programme, organised a symposium day at the IUT de Lille. This meeting aimed to encourage exchanges between scientific partners, agricultural stakeholders, innovation structures and companies involved in the development of alternative solutions for crop protection.
This event was a key moment for the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio. It provided an opportunity to put into perspective the work carried out within the different projects, while opening discussions on the conditions required for the development, evaluation, valorisation and deployment of biocontrol solutions adapted to the needs of agricultural sectors. It also provided an opportunity, during the Portfolio Council, to review the overall progress of the portfolio, the coordination between projects, and the next steps.
A morning dedicated to the strategic agricultural and industrial challenges of biocontrol
The morning was marked by several complementary presentations, offering different perspectives on biocontrol : public policies supporting alternative solutions, the realities faced by farmers in the field, and innovation approaches led by companies.
The first presentation, delivered by Mr Christian Lannou, INRAE representative and co-chair of the scientific and technical committee of PARSADA, addressed the challenges of the Strategic Action Plan for anticipating the potential European withdrawal of active substances and developing alternative techniques for crop protection.
This presentation helped place the work of the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio within a broader context: the progressive transition towards more sustainable crop protection systems, while taking into account the technical, economic and regulatory constraints faced by agricultural sectors.
The morning continued with a presentation by Boerenbond, represented by Lien Tyvaert, focusing on the challenges of crop protection for farmers in Flanders. This presentation highlighted the importance of maintaining a scientific and practical approach when evaluating and using plant protection solutions. Discussions focused in particular on integrated pest and disease management, the gradual reduction in the use of plant protection products, the need to preserve yields, and the availability of effective, applicable and economically viable solutions for farmers.
The presentation also highlighted several points of attention regarding biocontrol agents and biostimulants. Although these solutions represent a promising pathway for the future of crop protection, their large-scale adoption still depends on several factors: consistent efficacy under field conditions, ease of use, cost, regulatory framework, integration into resistance management strategies and complementarity with other crop protection tools.
Finally, the presentation by Lipofabrik, a subsidiary of the Éléphant Vert Group, delivered by Noadya Monnier, provided an industrial perspective on the development of biostimulation and biocontrol products. The presentation highlighted the key steps required to turn a biological innovation into an applicable solution: candidate identification, screening, efficacy validation, process optimisation, formulation, scale-up, field trials and consideration of regulatory requirements.
This presentation particularly illustrated the importance of the link between research, industrial development and producers’ needs. It also emphasised the growing role of biologically active molecules, particularly microbial metabolites and lipopeptides, in the development of new generations of biosolutions.
Crop-based working groups to strengthen collaboration between projects within the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio
The afternoon was dedicated to crop-based working groups. These thematic meetings aimed to bring together partners from the three regions Wallonia, Flanders and France, involved in the different projects of the portfolio, around common issues related to the crops studied and the targeted pests and diseases.
Four working groups were organised around the following crops: potato, vegetables, flax/wheat and apple. These groups are designed to promote exchanges, collaboration and coordination of trials between partners. Discussions focused in particular on trial protocols, product application methods, results obtained at different scales, field observations, obstacles encountered and work perspectives for the next steps of the portfolio.
In addition, a cross-cutting challenge was identified: the need to define common methods to evaluate the efficacy of biocontrol products and strategies. This reflection is essential to compare results between trials, refine the selection of the most promising solutions and support their progression towards the final stages of the project.
This day clearly illustrated the objective of the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio: to create links between academic research, applied experimentation, agricultural stakeholders, companies and support structures in order to accelerate the development of biocontrol solutions adapted to the needs of agricultural sectors.
Beyond the presentations and technical discussions, this symposium provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen the collective dynamic of the Biocontrol 4.0 portfolio and consolidate cross-border cooperation between French, Walloon and Flemish partners, by fostering the exchange of experiences, networking between stakeholders and the development of joint projects across these territories.
Useful links
To learn more about PARSADA, please visit the page of the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-food and Food Sovereignty → http://bit.ly/3T1mwfY
To learn more about Boerenbond, please visit the organisation’s official website → https://www.boerenbond.be/propos-de-boerenbond
To learn more about Lipofabrik and the Éléphant Vert Group, please visit the official Éléphant Vert website → https://bit.ly/440SdZg
