Towards sustainable late blight protection for potatoes
Towards sustainable late blight protection for potatoes: A new path forward with Fytosol®
Late blight remains one of the most feared diseases in potato production worldwide. Caused by the aggressive pathogen Phytophthora infestans, it can spread extremely fast under humid conditions and destroy entire fields within days if left unmanaged.
For decades, growers have relied heavily on fungicide programs to protect their crops. While these tools are effective, they also come with growing challenges: resistance development, regulatory restrictions, and increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact.
Today, potato farming is entering a new era. One where protection strategies must remain efficient, but also become more sustainable, more integrated, and better aligned with modern agricultural expectations.
This is exactly where innovative biocontrol solutions such as Fytosol® are reshaping the future of late-blight management.
Late blight: A persistent threat for potato growers
Late blight is not only one of the most destructive diseases in potato production, it also represents a major economic burden for European agriculture. In the European Union alone, the disease is estimated to generate around €900 million in annual losses, combining yield reduction and the cost of intensive control programs. This scale of impact clearly underscores the urgent need for more sustainable and resilient protection strategies.
Despite significant progress in forecasting models and improved agronomic practices, growers continue to face high disease pressure, particularly during seasons marked by frequent rainfall and mild temperatures.
The challenge is further amplified by the ongoing evolution of Phytophthora infestans populations across Europe, with emerging strains showing increasing resistance risks to certain fungicide modes of action.
Taken together, these trends highlight a key reality for the sector: relying solely on traditional chemical solutions is no longer sufficient to ensure long-term, sustainable late-blight management.
The need for more sustainable protection strategies
Potato production is increasingly expected to meet sustainability targets, whether through integrated pest management, reduced pesticide use, or lower environmental impact.
This is particularly true for copper-based products, widely used in organic systems. Copper accumulation in soils is a well-known concern, and several countries are moving toward stricter limitations.
Source: APS Plant Disease Review, 2024
The future of late-blight control therefore depends on solutions that can support growers while reducing reliance on heavy chemical inputs.
This is where plant defense stimulators represent a major shift.
Introducing Fytosol®: Strengthening the plant from within
Fytosol®, developed by FytoFend, is a patented biocontrol solution designed to enhance the potato plant’s natural defense capacity.
Rather than acting as a conventional fungicide that directly targets the pathogen, Fytosol works by activating the plant’s own immune system.
It is based on the innovative COS-OGA technology, chitosan oligomers (COS) and oligogalacturonides (OGA). These natural compounds mimic pathogen signals and trigger defense responses before infection takes hold.
This approach makes Fytosol particularly relevant in sustainable crop protection, because it helps the plant prepare itself against late blight pressure.
How Fytosol® supports late blight management
When applied preventively, Fytosol enhances foliar protection by stimulating defense signaling pathways. This results in stronger, more resilient foliage during the critical phases of crop development.
Fytosol contributes to maintaining canopy health and supporting yield potential, while remaining compatible with both conventional and low-input strategies.
Source: Fytofend Product Page
Elicitors like COS-OGA have also been widely studied for their ability to activate defense genes and improve resistance responses in crops, including potatoes.
Source: UCLouvain Research Repository
The key is not replacement, but reinforcement. Fytosol becomes a valuable component in integrated programs, helping reduce disease pressure and supporting more balanced protection strategies.
A practical fit for integrated pest management
Sustainable late-blight control is not about one single solution. It is about combining tools intelligently.
Fytosol fits naturally into IPM frameworks by offering preventive support during high-risk periods, particularly when weather conditions favor infection.
Recent research confirms that timing and repeated stimulation of plant defenses are essential factors for elicitor performance in real farming conditions.
Source: Springer, 2025 (Elicitor-based disease management)
By integrating Fytosol early in the season, growers can strengthen crop resilience while optimizing the overall spray strategy.
Toward the future of potato protection
The potato sector is facing a transformation. Disease pressure remains high, but expectations are shifting toward solutions that are not only effective, but also environmentally responsible and aligned with future regulations.
Fytosol represents this new generation of crop protection: one that leverages biology, plant immunity, and sustainability without compromising performance.
For growers looking to secure their yields while reducing dependency on traditional fungicides and copper-based inputs, Fytosol offers a forward-looking approach to late-blight management.
