French industrial greentech company Amoéba has secured marketing authorization in France for its biofungicide AXPERA, marking a major milestone in the company's strategy to expand its footprint in Europe's rapidly growing biocontrol market.
The approval, granted by France's national health and food safety agency following a comprehensive scientific evaluation, represents the first long-term European authorization for the company's natural microbiological crop protection solution. As France served as the rapporteur member state for the product's assessment, the decision is expected to accelerate national approval procedures in several other European countries over the coming months.
The authorization officially launches the commercial phase of AXPERA in partnership with agricultural biosolutions company Koppert. Initial commercialization will begin in France before expanding into other European markets as national regulatory approvals are secured.
AXPERA has been approved for use against several major fungal diseases affecting vineyards and vegetable crops. The biofungicide can be deployed in both open-field and protected cultivation systems and is designed to prevent fungal infections by inhibiting spore germination. The product's approved applications include the control of downy mildew and powdery mildew in grapes and cucurbits, as well as late blight and powdery mildew in tomatoes and eggplants, among other crop uses.
The product has also received low-risk classification, enabling its use in both conventional and organic farming systems. Its favorable regulatory profile includes some of the shortest re-entry periods, pre-harvest intervals and safety distances granted to plant protection products in France, enhancing its practicality and appeal for growers.
A key competitive advantage for AXPERA lies in its active ingredient, a lysate derived from the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky, which is exempt from maximum residue limits. The exemption reduces compliance requirements for treated produce and simplifies market access for farmers and supply chains increasingly focused on residue-free production.
The company also intends to have AXPERA included on France's official list of biocontrol products, a designation that could facilitate environmental certifications, support agroecological farming practices and strengthen the product's acceptance among producers and distributors.
The French approval is expected to serve as a catalyst for broader European expansion. Applications for open-field uses have already been submitted in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece, while approvals for protected cultivation are being pursued in several additional markets, including Belgium, Poland and Germany. The company is also planning mutual recognition applications in a dozen more member states to support market entry beginning in 2027.
The authorization is valid for 15 years and is renewable, providing Amoéba with a long-term platform to expand the product's geographic reach and potentially broaden its applications to additional crops and plant diseases.
As agricultural producers increasingly seek sustainable alternatives to conventional crop protection products, Amoéba believes the approval of AXPERA positions the company to play a larger role in Europe's transition toward environmentally responsible and residue-conscious farming systems.
