Research and innovation chair
What if nature holds the keys to protecting our crops?
Biom InnoV
A chair is a structured partnership that brings together companies, academic institutions, and sometimes local authorities around a common research theme. The 'Biocontrol Explorer for Plant Health' chair formalizes the collaboration already underway between Biom InnoV and AGHYLE, with the goal of developing high-throughput screening methods to evaluate new bio-actives against crop pathogens.
UniLaSalle
UniLaSalle is a higher education and research institution with 5 research units that bring together over 200 scientists. The agroecology research unit (AGro-écologie, HYdrogéochimie, milieux & ressources – AGHYLE), with its 50 scientists and state-of-the-art technological platforms, is recognized for its expertise in soil science, microbial ecology, soil-plant-microorganism interactions, plant nutrition, and plant health.)
The chair : a common home
is a startup founded by Aude Bernardon-Méry and AgriLife Studio. It develops bio-actives to combat crop diseases, relying on a holistic approach centered on the ecosystem (the plant considered with all its microbiome).
Its ambition: to become a global leader in identifying bio-sourced active ingredients. A member of France Biocontrol by IBMA since early 2026 and supported by BPI, Saint-Malo Agglomération, Le Pool, and competitiveness clusters such as Vegepolys Valley and Valorial.
How does it work in practice ?
This work is led by Biom InnoV and researchers from UniLaSalle, benefiting from advanced laboratory equipment and a greenhouse for phenotyping. The work focuses on the plant, its microbiome, and pathogenic microorganisms, which will be observed through a combination of molecular biology, cellular biology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and imaging approaches.
The goal is to develop high-throughput screening methods to select plant extracts and bio-actives.
Knowledge about the mode of action of botanical extracts will be shared for initial field evaluations to feed Biom InnoV's development pipeline.
Tow parteners, one common ambition
The platform is based on 3 units :
Pathogen evaluation unit (Figure A)
Plant protection evaluation unit (Figures B and C)
Microbiome evaluation unit (Figure D)
Diagram : Adrien Gauthier Enseignant-Chercheur, Phytopathologie - Unité de Recherche AGHYLE - UniLaSalle
<< This Biocontrol Explorer for Plant Health chair solidifies a multi-year collaboration aimed at a common goal: reinventing crop protection for sustainable and resilient agriculture. This chair is a strategic lever to accelerate the discovery of new biocontrol molecules, anticipate plant health challenges, address the evolution of pathogens and increasing regulatory demands, and train the talents of tomorrow. The projects conducted here will have a direct impact on the field, offering farmers effective, accessible, and sustainable tools. 'Let’s protect crops, preserve the future. >>
Aude BERNARDON-MERY,
Founder and President of Biom InnoV
<< Agriculture stands at the heart of the challenges of food, energy, and ecological sovereignty. By joining forces with Biom InnoV, we are building a synergy between science and innovation, centered on soil-plant-microorganism interactions, with the aim of generating solid knowledge to drive the development of innovative solutions. Through this partnership, we reaffirm our ambition as an institution of higher education and research: to train, innovate, and act decisively to meet the challenges of agroecology and advance a sustainable agriculture rooted in living systems. >>
Isabelle TRINSOUTROT-GATTIN,
Head of AGHYLE Research unit at UniLaSalle
<< The need for effective crop protection solutions that respect the environment and human health is becoming increasingly urgent. At the same time, significant scientific advances are being made in understanding microbiomes and the interactions between plants and the microorganisms they host, enabling better protection and nutrition. The Biocontrol Explorer Chair comes at just the right time to turn these advances into innovations for farmers. >>
Christian HUYGHE,
Former Scientific Director of Agriculture at INRAE, Mission Officer at INRAE
En quelques mots ...
BIOCONTROL EXPLORER ™ for plant Health