FytoFend Showcases FytoSave® at the 17th Slovenian Consultation on Plant Protection
Last week, FytoFend participated in the 17th Slovenian Consultation on Plant Protection with International Participation, a major scientific event dedicated to the future of sustainable crop protection in Europe.
During the conference, Nicolas De Menten represented Fytofend and presented the latest developments related to Fytosave®, a biocontrol solution designed for sustainable viticulture.
The event, organised by the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, gathered researchers, agronomists and plant protection specialists from several countries to exchange knowledge on innovative approaches for managing crop diseases while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.
Fytosave®: A Biocontrol Solution for Sustainable Viticulture
During the consultation, Nicolas De Menten highlighted the role of Fytosave®, a plant protection product based on the patented active substance COS-OGA.
COS-OGA is a complex of chitosan oligomers (COS) and oligogalacturonides (OGA) that activates the plant’s natural immune system. By stimulating the vine’s innate defence mechanisms, the product helps the plant respond faster and more efficiently to pathogen attacks.
In viticulture, this mode of action allows growers to better manage two major diseases affecting vineyards worldwide:
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator)
- Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola)
Field trials conducted across several European wine-growing regions have demonstrated that integrating Fytosave® into crop protection programs can help reduce disease incidence while maintaining vine vigour and yield.
Supporting Integrated Pest Management in European Vineyards
One of the key topics discussed during the Slovenian consultation was the growing importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
Biocontrol solutions such as Fytosave® play an increasingly important role in these programs by helping winegrowers:
- reduce reliance on conventional fungicides
- lower environmental impact
- meet evolving regulatory and sustainability requirements in European agriculture.
Another advantage of COS-OGA technology is its favourable environmental profile, including no residue concerns and a very low risk of resistance development, making it a valuable addition to modern plant protection strategies.
Collaboration with Metrob in Slovenia
Fytofend attended the conference together with its local distributor Metrob, a key partner supporting the development and distribution of Fytosave® in Slovenia.
This collaboration reflects Fytofend commitment to working with regional partners to accelerate the adoption of innovative biosolutions for crop protection across Europe.
Advancing Sustainable Plant Protection
Participation in international scientific conferences such as the Slovenian Consultation on Plant Protection provides an important platform to share research results and practical agronomic experience.
For Fytofend, it is also an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with the scientific community and agricultural professionals working toward more sustainable and resilient viticulture systems.
