Biotalys Advances EVOCA in California Approval Review Effort

Biotalys has moved one step closer to potential registration of its first biofungicide, EVOCA, in California, after the California Department of Pesticide Regulation opened a public consultation period on the product’s dossier.

The move follows a positive assessment from the agency’s Human Health Assessment Branch, which found that the data submitted by Biotalys support registration of EVOCA in the state. The public comment period is scheduled to run for 30 days, closing July 26, after which regulators are expected to review feedback before moving toward a final decision in the second half of 2026.

A Key Market for Biocontrol

California is a strategically important market for Biotalys because of its scale and crop mix. The state is the largest agricultural producer in the United States and is a major grower of high-value fruit and vegetable crops, including strawberries, tomatoes and grapes — all markets where fungal disease control is a critical concern.

EVOCA is designed to help control Botrytis, also known as grey mold, and powdery mildew in fruit and vegetable production. For growers facing pressure to manage disease while reducing reliance on conventional chemical tools, biological crop protection products are becoming an increasingly important part of integrated pest management strategies.

The California review is especially significant because the state is widely viewed as one of the most rigorous pesticide regulatory environments in the world. Biotalys said the start of public consultation, combined with the positive human health assessment, reinforces confidence in the company’s regulatory data package and the broader potential of its protein-based AGROBODY technology platform.

Building a U.S. Regulatory Pathway

The California milestone follows Biotalys’ earlier approval for EVOCA in Florida, which marked the company’s first U.S. state approval for the biofungicide. Together, the two regulatory developments suggest gradual progress in bringing the company’s first-generation biofungicide closer to the U.S. market.

Still, California registration is not yet complete. The public consultation process gives stakeholders and the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed decision, and CDPR must review those comments before issuing a final determination.

For Biotalys, a successful California registration could also support the path for EVOCA NG, the company’s next-generation version of the product that contains the same active ingredient. EVOCA NG is expected to be Biotalys’ first commercial biofungicide, with planned launches in the United States in 2029 and Europe in 2030.

From Platform Promise to Commercial Test

Biotalys is positioning its technology as a bridge between conventional chemical crop protection and biological alternatives. The company’s protein-based approach is intended to offer the efficacy and scalability growers expect from traditional products while providing a more favorable environmental profile.

The commercial opportunity is sizable, but execution remains important. The company estimates that EVOCA NG will target a combined U.S. and European market of about $1.1 billion, though regulatory approvals, field performance, grower adoption and manufacturing scale will all influence how quickly that opportunity can be realized.

For now, the California consultation marks a meaningful regulatory step rather than a commercial endpoint. If approved, EVOCA would strengthen Biotalys’ foothold in the U.S. biocontrol market and help set the stage for the company’s next-generation product strategy.