Plag-e has developed a sustainable and eco-friendly pest control solution for all types of crops

Founded in 2014, this startup, based at the CEIN Incubator, plans to focus on new developments specifically tailored for apple orchards as well as greenhouse production of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant, among other crops.

Sustainability is one of the main challenges facing the primary sector. Having moved beyond the phase of mechanization, producers are seeking ways to maximize the performance of their farms while maintaining a “harmonious” relationship with the natural environment around them. Evidence of this is their search for alternatives to plastic and, above all, for systems that minimize the use of plant protection products, especially those of chemical origin. We are witnessing a clear trend for the future, one in which the Navarran startup Plag-e, based at CEIN’s Tudela Agri-Food Incubator, is at the forefront. Their solution could not be simpler or more effective: using insects themselves as the first line of defense for our crops against pests caused by… other insects. As we’ve mentioned, simple yet highly effective.

How would you describe your company?
We are a family-owned business dedicated to the production and sale of biological control agents (BCAs), which are predatory insects or parasitoids that target crop pests. It is a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to control pests both in open fields and in greenhouses.

When did you get started, and what motivated you to do so?
Six years ago, my brother had been researching the production of these OCBs at home because there is very little information available on the subject. So we saw an opportunity and decided to do it ourselves.

What stage is your project currently at, and what are your plans for the future?
This will be the third year we’ve been selling ‘Anthocoris nemoralis’ to control the pear psyllid (a type of pest that severely affects pear trees, weakening them and causing deformities in the most affected parts). From there, our business plan involves R&D&I to produce and sell other beneficial insects for pest control in apple orchards and greenhouses (tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, etc.).

“THE BEST PART IS WATCHING YOUR PROJECT GROW”

What service do you value most about Vivero?
Above all, we value the knowledge and tools they provide us to improve our company's management and tax affairs, to name just a few examples

A recommendation or piece of advice for entrepreneurs who find themselves in your situation. Why should they take the plunge and start their own business?
If this project has taught us anything, it’s that nothing compares to the freedom you feel when you work for yourself. It’s also very exciting to see the project grow and to achieve the goals you set for yourself at the outset.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Company Name: Plag-e (Plant-e Natural Products, LLC)

Year Founded: 2014

Founders: Paula Arellano; Imanol Arellano; Gorka Arellano

Industry: Agriculture