Certis Belchim and Elicit Plant Partner to Co-Develop Biostimulant for Potatoes in Europe
03 March 2026, New Delhi: Certis Belchim and Elicit Plant have announced a strategic partnership to co-develop a biostimulant for potatoes aimed at addressing climate-related production challenges in Europe.
The agreement combines Elicit Plant’s research and development capabilities with Certis Belchim’s crop protection portfolio and position in the European potato sector. The companies stated that the collaboration is intended to support yield stability and tuber quality under variable climatic conditions.
Focus on Abiotic Stress in Potatoes
The partnership targets abiotic stress in potato cultivation, particularly drought-related stress linked to increasing climate variability and water scarcity in several European growing regions. The companies said the joint effort will support potato growers in adapting production systems to changing environmental conditions.
Under the agreement, the partners will co-develop a potato-specific formulation and application protocol designed to integrate into existing spray programmes. The companies indicated that this approach is intended to facilitate adoption within current farm management practices.
Development Phase and Field Trials
During the initial phase of the partnership, Elicit Plant advanced product candidates through its EliTerra® platform, based on phytosterol technology. According to the company, these bioactive compounds have demonstrated effects on crop performance under climate stress conditions in preliminary studies.
Certis Belchim and Elicit Plant will now implement an expanded field trial programme across multiple soil types and climatic zones in Europe. The trials are intended to validate agronomic performance, assess consistency under different production systems, and refine the formulation and application strategy.
The companies stated that the objective is to develop a solution aligned with growers’ operational requirements, supported by field data and scientific validation, and compatible with sustainable production frameworks.
Industry Perspective
Mark Waltham, CEO of Certis Belchim, said innovation is required to address agronomic constraints linked to climate variability and to support sustainable potato production. He stated that the co-development of a potato-focused biostimulant aligns with the company’s plant health portfolio across the potato value chain.
Jean-François Déchant, CEO of Elicit Plant, said that crop-specific bio-solutions are central to the company’s strategy. He noted that collaboration with Certis Belchim supports the expansion of its phytosterol-based technologies into additional crops through partnerships with sector specialists.
The companies did not disclose financial details of the agreement or a projected commercial launch timeline.
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