Bionomic wins Americas challenge

Bionomic has been named the winner of this year’s ‘Start- & scale-up challenge’, an initiative organised by GreenTech Americas, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mexico City, the Netherlands Business Support Office in Querétaro, and AVAG. The Dutch start-up distinguished itself from a strong field of entries, earning the chance to present its chemical free growing solution to professionals from across Latin America, during GreenTech Americas. The exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Querétaro Congress Center (QCC), Mexico, from Tuesday 24 – Thursday 26 March 2026.

Start- and scale-up challenge

Innovation and knowledge exchange are at the core of GreenTech. To further stimulate innovation in the horticultural sector and support growers and breeders with forward looking solutions, GreenTech Americas organises the ‘Start  and scale up challenge’. The initiative offers young and innovative Dutch companies direct access to the Latin American horticulture market, while also providing valuable brand exposure and opportunities to connect with potential investors and strategic partners.

Winner and entries

The winning product BioShield, of Bionomic, is a next-generation biofungicide that delivers reliable performance while meeting the sustainability standards of biological solutions. Developed with the needs of markets such as North America and Latin America in mind, BioShield is based on a novel fermentation-derived active ingredient that provides direct disease control without relying on living microorganisms. This approach combines consistent efficacy with a strong safety and environmental profile, offering growers a practical and scalable alternative to conventional chemical fungicides.
In addition, all entries deserve to receive an honourable mention: Value Carbon, Hippotainer, Carapace Biopolymers, and Growficient. The entries were judged on the degree of innovation, level of sustainability, presentation and suitability for the Mexican and Latin American market.

Prize

The winner Bionomic will be awarded one return flight ticket (AMS–MEX–AMS) and a booth on the exhibition floor. In addition, the winning start  or scale up will receive a dedicated speaking slot on the GreenTech Stage, providing the opportunity to present its innovation to the audience during one of the three exhibition days.

Jury

The jury consisted of Wendele van der Wiele (Netherlands Embassy in Mexico City), Frank Hoogendoorn (Netherlands Embassy in Mexico City), Peter Koenderink (NBSO), Annie van de Riet (AVAG) and Mariska Dreschler (GreenTech): “The jury was impressed by the innovation power of this year’s Dutch entries. This solution stood out for its strong alignment with the global ambition to grow without chemical inputs, contributing directly to SDG goals 2 and 6 by improved water quality and promoting sustainable agriculture. Its biological technology is highly suitable for the Mexican market, easy to integrate into existing systems and requires only a limited investment. A promising step for a sector looking to move away from chemical crop protection, especially in a climate where disease pressure is consistently high. We look forward to supporting the winner, as well as all other participants, in further exploring opportunities in Mexico.”

About GreenTech Americas

GreenTech Americas is part of the GreenTech portfolio and focuses on Mexico as well as the rest of the Americas. The goal is to meet the specific needs of growers, breeders and suppliers. GreenTech Americas enables a greater exchange of knowledge, experiences, and success stories of the horticultural industry in this region. The show is organised by RAI Amsterdam and Informa Markets. Please find more information at www.greentech.nl/americas.

About GreenTech Amsterdam

GreenTech Amsterdam will be held from Tuesday 9 – Thursday 11 June 2026. The exhibition is a global meeting place for all horticultural technology professionals with the focus on the early stages of the horticultural chain and the current issues growers face. GreenTech is supported by AVAG, the industry association for the greenhouse technology sector in the Netherlands. More information via www.greentech.nl or follow Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

About GreenTech North America

GreenTech North America is part of the GreenTech portfolio with the focus on the region of the USA and Canada. The goal is to meet the specific needs of growers, breeders and suppliers. GreenTech North America enables a greater exchange of knowledge, experiences, and success stories of the horticultural industry in this region. The show is organised by RAI Amsterdam and will take place Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September 2026 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Please find more information at https://www.greentech.nl/north-america.