The winner of the start- and scale-up challenge, organized by GreenTech Americas in cooperation with the Netherlands Embassy in Mexico and the Netherlands Business Support Office Querétaro, is Valto Biocontrol with the product V10. The Dutch start-up was selected out of 7 impressive entries. The goal of the challenge is to give start- and scale-ups the opportunity to present their innovative and sustainable solutions to the Latin American horticulture market during GreenTech Americas.
The exhibition will be held from Tuesday, 21 - Thursday, 23 March in Querétaro Congress Center (QCC), Mexico.
Start-up challenge
GreenTech is all about innovation and knowledge exchange. To give an extra impulse to the sector and help growers and breeders with innovative solutions, the start- and scale-up challenge was organized for the second time by GreenTech Americas. It gives young and innovative companies from the Netherlands a direct entrance to the Latin American horticulture market.
Winner and entries
Valto Biocontrol launched the product V10, which helps growers to protect and make their tomato plants resistant to the Pepinomozaïek Virus (PepMV) using an environment-friendly method. With cross-protection, young plants are 'vaccinated' with mild variants of a virus, which prepares and protects the plants against the symptoms of this virus all year. Since 2022 Valto has the permission to sell V10 on the Mexican market. In addition, all entries received an honorable mention: Celine, OTFLOW, Tapp, Plantfellow, Sigrow, and Track32. The entries were judged on the degree of innovation, level of sustainability, presentation, and suitability for the Mexican and Latin American markets.
Prize
Valto Biocontrol has won a flight ticket to Mexico and a booth at the show. They are also able to pitch their innovation or business idea at a timeslot on the GreenTech Stage during one of the three days of the show.
Jury
The jury consisted of Erik Plaisier (Netherlands Embassy in Mexico), Frank Hoogendoorn (Netherlands Embassy in Mexico), Steven Büter (NBSO), Annie van de Riet (AVAG), and Mariska Dreschler (GreenTech). They selected Valto Biocontrol because: "Valto products protect plants against viruses in an environmental friendly way", "Strong partnerships established already, nationally and internationally (sold in 25 countries)," and "New in the Mexican market".
GreenTech Americas