From Innovation to Impact: The Real Challenge for Biologicals
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 24
I recently returned from BioEx 2026, and it was an energizing and thought-provoking experience.
Over two days at the event, I had the opportunity to listen, share, and engage in meaningful conversations with scientists, industry leaders, and innovators across the biological crop protection space. The diversity of technologies and the openness in discussing future challenges stood out to me the most.
What stayed with me were not only the formal sessions and panels, but also the many conversations in between: those moments in hallways, at exhibit booths, over coffee, and during transitions. There is clear progress across the industry, but also a shared recognition that important questions remain.
After reflecting on the meeting, one takeaway stands out: for biologicals, success today depends on turning strong science into solutions that farmers can use, trust, and scale.
What stayed with me most is how much the conversation has shifted. It is no longer about whether the science works, but about how to make it work at scale.
1. Innovation Is No Longer the Bottleneck
One message came through clearly: innovation is no longer the limiting factor.
The conference highlighted a diversity of technologies: microbials, RNA, peptides, phages, and synthetic biology platforms. The industry is full of ideas, data, and promising results.
Yet one comment captured the sentiment clearly. As Eva Hoo, General Manager at AgroPages, noted:
“Innovation is abundant, but scale remains elusive.”
This reflects a shift in the industry. The challenge is no longer discovery, but translation: turning scientific advances into solutions that work in the real world.
From lab to greenhouse. From greenhouse to field. And ultimately, to farmer adoption.
This is where many biological solutions still struggle: bridging the gap between research and real-world application.
2. Different Paths, Same Direction
Another interesting signal is how large companies are positioning themselves.
Rather than simply acquiring new technologies, major global players are taking on different roles within the ecosystem.
Some focus on technology development and platform building.
Some act as integrators, bringing biologicals into existing crop protection systems.
Others are exploring new approaches, such as biological–chemical synergy.
Despite these different paths, the direction is clear:
Biologicals are becoming a core part of crop protection systems, not just a supplement.
This marks an important shift. The industry is moving beyond just trying biologicals and is beginning to integrate them into core crop protection strategies.
3. Technical Breakthroughs Are Real, But Cost Still Matters
The conference showcased impressive scientific progress:
Peptide-based solutions demonstrating strong field efficacy
RNA-based products expanding beyond insect control to fungi and mites
Bacteriophages advancing into practical field applications for bacterial disease control
Synthetic biology is improving production efficiency and scalability
Multi-omics approaches accelerating strain discovery and development
Some examples showed meaningful improvements in both cost and performance, including microbial products from multiple players, RNA products developed by GreenLight Biosciences, and phage products from PhageLux AgriHealth.
Yet one point remains clear. If costs are high, adoption will be limited. Farmers make decisions based on reliability, simplicity, and cost, not just on how new or innovative a solution is.
This is a great reminder for scientists: a strong product is defined not only by how well it works but also by how easy it is to use and how affordable it is.
4. The Hidden Layer: Formulation, Delivery, and Field Stability
Another important insight is the challenge of moving from an active ingredient to a reliable product in the field.
Discovery remains the foundation: finding new strains, identifying new molecules, and designing RNA or peptides are critical starting points. But there is another layer of work that is just as important.
This includes formulation, shelf life, delivery systems, and compatibility with existing farming practices.
Together, these factors determine whether a product performs consistently under real-world conditions.
In many cases, this “hidden layer” is where success is decided.
5. Adoption Is Not Just Technical; It Is Also Behavioral
Another point that stood out was how farmers adopt new solutions.
I also had the opportunity to sit down with Mark Engel, Chairman of Phagelux AgriHealth, and hear his perspective on scaling production and farmer adoption. One insight from his talk has stayed with me:
No farmer is willing to take the risk of replacing an old product they are already using.
It is a simple statement, but it reflects a core reality in agriculture: decisions are shaped by risk, reliability, and experience.
As a result, biologicals are often introduced gradually into existing systems:
as complements rather than replacements, especially in the early stages
as low-risk additions
as part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs
with a clear and proven value in performance and return
It also highlights something important: technology alone is not enough; trust matters just as much.
For farmers, trust develops over time. It comes from education, consistent performance in their own fields or local demonstrations, and from the experiences shared by advisors, retailers, and fellow growers.
As existing tools become less effective, especially with increasing resistance, the need for new solutions becomes more urgent.
In this context, biologicals are not just an alternative; they are becoming an essential part of modern crop protection. New approaches, including RNA-based products, provide additional tools that can work alongside existing solutions and help build more sustainable and resilient systems.
6. Regulation Is Evolving and Gaining Clarity
Globally, regulatory systems for biologicals continue to evolve. Different regions are progressing at different speeds, with varying definitions, requirements, and timelines. This reflects both the complexity of the field and the ongoing effort to build appropriate frameworks.
For emerging technologies such as phages, RNA, and peptides, this creates both opportunities for innovation and a learning process for all stakeholders as pathways become clearer.
Encouragingly, regulatory systems are increasingly able to accommodate new technologies. In practice, successful registration is not only about having a strong product; it also depends on clear positioning, solid scientific data, reliable manufacturing, and early, transparent engagement with regulators.
Overall, the direction is positive. As experience grows, regulatory pathways are becoming more defined, helping support the responsible development and adoption of biological solutions.
7. The Real Bottleneck: Connecting the System
Putting these signals together, one theme becomes clear. These are not separate challenges but are parts of the same system.
The main challenge is not a single piece of technology. It is how everything connects.
Biological solutions do not succeed on science alone. Their performance depends on how well different parts of the system work together: active discovery, formulation, delivery, field conditions, compatibility with existing practices, and alignment with grower programs.
At the conference, this came up repeatedly in different ways. Strong efficacy in controlled settings does not always translate to consistent performance in the field.
A promising product is not enough if it does not fit into how farmers actually manage their crops. This is where the real bottleneck lies. Not in discovery, but in integration.
Connecting science to product. Connecting product to field performance. And ultimately, connecting performance to farmer trust and adoption.
Each step matters. But more importantly, each step must connect and work well with the next.
The industry is shifting from competing on individual technologies to focusing on how everything works together as an integrated system.
Final Reflection
BioEx 2026 felt like a turning point.
Biologicals are no longer on the sidelines of agriculture; they are now part of the main conversation. But with that comes new responsibilities.
We need to think beyond discovery:
How do we design for real-world conditions?
How do we simplify adoption?
How do we align science, regulation, and application?
The future of biologicals will not be defined by a single breakthrough.
It will depend on how well we connect all the parts and how effectively we turn innovation into solutions that work in practice.
The next chapter will not be about new ideas alone, but about making those ideas work consistently, reliably, and at scale.
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