Agriculture applies over 4 billion pounds of chemical pesticides every year, yet insect pests still destroy 10–20% of global crops. This challenge is worsening as insects develop resistance to common active substances and as climate change accelerates their reproduction and spread. At the same time, governments are progressively banning or restricting synthetic pesticides because of their toxicity, environmental persistence, and impact on biodiversity. Biocontrol alternatives exist, but most lack the potency, reliability, and versatility required to replace chemical pesticides at scale. Pertinent addresses this gap by developing innovative biocontrol solutions that combine the safety profile of biological products with the efficacy historically associated with conventional chemicals. The company has demonstrated strong technical performance and commercial traction in several initial markets. However, to fully enter mainstream crop protection, Pertinent must finalize specific formulations, validate them across climates and crops, and complete regulatory processes in major agricultural regions. The VERANO project was created to bridge this final development step. Its goal is to select the most effective formulations for targeted crops, verify their performance under field conditions, prepare and submit regulatory dossiers, and launch commercial-scale production. Ultimately, VERANO aims to bring to market a new generation of biocontrol products capable of providing highly effective pest management while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. The expected outcomes include the launch of products across the EU, U.S. and selected international markets; the creation of more than a dozen new jobs; the generation of roughly €30 million in revenues and €11 million in EBITDA; and the avoidance of more than 20,000 tons of chemical pesticide use by 2030. By supporting the transition to sustainable, resilient agriculture, the project contributes directly to EU environmental objectives and to SDGs linked to food security, climate action, water quality, and biodiversity.
