Kwizda Agro Leverages Yeast and Orange Oil for Sustainable Vine Protection
The crop protection specialist expands its biological portfolio with the proprietary UPSIDE® and LIMOCIDE
Vienna, May 8, 2025 — As demand for sustainable plant protection continues to rise—particularly in viticulture—Kwizda Agro is reinforcing its commitment to eco-friendly innovation. With the recent approval of two new crop protection products, the company is expanding its biological portfolio to support vineyard owners with effective alternatives: UPSIDE®, a copper-free, yeast-based fungicide, and LIMOCIDE, an orange oil-based contact fungicide and insecticide for managing powdery mildew and harmful insects.
Yeast-Powered Innovation: UPSIDE®
At the forefront of this development is UPSIDE®, Kwizda Agro’s proprietary copper-free fungicide designed to combat downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in vineyards. The active ingredient, ABE-IT56, is derived from the cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae—a non-GMO yeast species long used in food production. Its dual-action mode of operation sets it apart: UPSIDE® both activates the vine’s natural immune defenses and directly targets the pathogen, without contributing to resistance development.
Thanks to its innovative formulation, UPSIDE® distributes evenly across plant surfaces without the need for additional surfactants. It leaves no detectable residues, is approved for organic farming, and requires only a short pre-harvest interval of three days.
“UPSIDE® is a prime example of our strategic direction,” says Andreas Reischütz, Country Manager at Kwizda Agro. “By combining scientific innovation with practical performance, our biological solutions empower growers to adopt future-ready, diversified crop protection strategies.”
Orange Oil-Based Control: LIMOCIDE
Also newly approved is LIMOCIDE, a broad-spectrum contact fungicide and insecticide based on natural orange oil, now available to growers through Kwizda Agro in Austria. Targeting pests such as thrips, whiteflies, and powdery mildew, LIMOCIDE works through a purely physical mechanism—the orange oil disrupts the cell membranes of pests and pathogens, delivering fast and visible results. Its mechanical mode of action significantly lowers the risk of resistance.
Approved for organic agriculture, LIMOCIDE leaves no chemical residues, making it an ideal choice during critical growth phases when residue limits and short withholding periods are essential. It also serves as a valuable tool in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, helping to reduce reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides.
Formulated from a natural active ingredient, LIMOCIDE is bee-safe and meets stringent environmental and user-safety standards. In practice, it impresses with ease of use, compatibility with other products, and the flexibility to be seamlessly incorporated into existing spray schedules.
Commitment to Flexibility and Sustainability
The approval of UPSIDE® and LIMOCIDE underscores Kwizda Agro’s ongoing mission to provide a balanced portfolio of biological and conventional crop protection solutions. This enables farmers and vineyard owners to tailor their protection strategies to specific needs and growing conditions.
“Our vision is to support agriculture with solutions that ensure both productive harvests and environmental stewardship,” says Reischütz. “By combining the best of biological and conventional approaches, we’re laying a reliable foundation for the future of farming.”
About Kwizda Agro
Kwizda Agro GmbH is one of the leading providers of chemical and biological plant protection products and part of the Kwizda Group in Austria. The company develops innovative active ingredients and has extensive expertise in producing complex, high-quality formulations. The Technology & Product Development and Crop Solutions divisions focus on developing and distributing proprietary biological products for forestry, specialty crops, and arable farming. Through its international distribution network, Kwizda Agro provides expert support for site-specific, sustainable plant protection. With over 400 employees across locations in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania, and the USA, Kwizda Agro supports healthy crops in agriculture and vibrant gardens as spaces for recreation.
For more information, visit www.kwizda-agro.com.
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Press Contact:
Kapp Hebein Partner
Michaela Hebein
Email: mh@khpartner.at
Phone: +43 1 2350 422-70
