ABG: What trends are you noticing in the market, and how are you navigating those trends?
Valentyna Bolokhovska: The first trend I am seeing in the biologicals sector is the transition to biological protection and integrated systems. The decreasing availability of chemical active ingredients is driving the growth of biocontrol. However, effectiveness is only achieved through a system that combines nutrition, soil processes, and agricultural technologies.
The second is competition at the level of strains, not species. The market is moving from simple “trichoderma” to specific strains with proven effectiveness. It’s no longer just about the concentration. What matters now is antagonistic activity, adaptation to specific soil and climate conditions, and a strong scientific evidence base.
The third is the focus on soil as the foundation of protection. Plant protection doesn’t start with leaf treatments. It starts with managing the soil microbiome. Restoring the biological activity of the soil naturally reduces the pressure from pathogens.
TIPS
My first tip is to invest in science, not just marketing. The future belongs to products with proven effectiveness, which includes field research, strain identification, and clear mechanisms of action. Without this, you cannot build market trust.
My second tip is to think about systems, not just products. A single biological product is not a solution. The real solution is a growing technology where biological products are integrated at every stage, from seeds and soil to the growing season (vegetation).
ABG: How have you turned challenges into opportunities throughout your career? How are you using technology at your company?
Valentyna Bolokhovska: We see technology as the foundation of our company’s growth. At BTU, this primarily means full-cycle biotechnology - from identifying and selecting strains to industrial production and field application. Over the last decade, we have taken several strategic steps:
Invested in our own R&D center.
Implemented technologies for producing stable forms of microorganisms, including dry biological products.
Moved from a product-based approach to systemic solutions, integrating biologicals into growing technologies (nutrition, protection, and antistress).
We have transformed key agricultural challenges - such as climate change, soil degradation, and restrictions on chemical pesticides - into opportunities:
Drought: We developed products with a “priming effect” that increase stress resistance in plants.
Soil degradation: We focus on biologization and restoring the soil microbiome.
Regulatory restrictions: We are expanding our biological protection portfolio as an alternative to chemicals.
Our approach is not just to “replace chemicals,” but to rethink the entire agricultural system through microbiology.
Source:
AgriBusiness Global – Introducing the AgriBusiness Global 2026 Visionary Leaders (Part 1)