Vegetable and Berry Crops Gain New Biological Fungicide
UPSIDE® by Kwizda Agro Receives Minor-Use Approval in Germany
Vienna, November 6, 2025 … The biological fungicide UPSIDE® from Kwizda Agro is now also approved for use in vegetable and berry crops as well as in arable and ornamental plants. With the minor-use approval granted by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), the application spectrum of this product—already well established in viticulture—has been significantly expanded. UPSIDE® can now be used in a wide range of specialty crops, including bulb vegetables, zucchini, leafy brassicas, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, and currants, providing growers with a biological alternative for controlling major fungal diseases such as downy and powdery mildew and Botrytis cinerea.
“With these minor-use authorizations for UPSIDE®, we can now make this biological fungicide available for the first time to arable, vegetable, and fruit-growing operations that previously had no additional biological option,” says Andreas Reischütz, Country Manager Crop AT & DE at Kwizda Agro.
Proven Mode of Action, Broader Range of Use
UPSIDE® is based on the active substance ABE-IT56, a lysate derived from cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain DDSF623). The product acts through a dual mechanism: it activates the plant’s natural defense system while simultaneously inhibiting the development of fungal pathogens. This combined mode of action helps to prevent the development of resistance and supports an integrated, sustainable plant protection strategy.
With its excellent crop compatibility, ease of use, and short pre-harvest interval, UPSIDE® is particularly suitable for growers who manage tight harvesting schedules and high quality standards.
“The extended approval demonstrates that biological crop protection products represent a viable option even in intensive specialty crop production such as vegetable and berry growing,” explains Gregor Lehner, who recently assumed responsibility as Technical Advisor for Vegetable Crops for Kwizda Agro in Germany and Austria. “UPSIDE® combines efficacy with residue-free results—an advantage especially important for high-value crops.”
Contributing to Sustainable Crop Protection
UPSIDE® is copper-free, registered as a biological plant protection product, and supports the development of sustainable crop protection strategies. The minor-use extension underscores Kwizda Agro’s goal of continuously expanding practical solutions for both biological and integrated crop protection, giving farmers greater flexibility and sustainable options for managing plant health.
More information on UPSIDE® is available at https://www.kwizda-agro.de/upside
About Kwizda Agro
Kwizda Agro is one of Austria’s leading providers of chemical and biological crop protection solutions and is part of the Kwizda Group. With nearly 100 years of experience, the company develops innovative active ingredients and produces high-quality, complex formulations at its Leobendorf site. Today, Kwizda Agro focuses on the development of exclusively biological crop protection products—a clear commitment to sustainability that is firmly anchored in the corporate strategy and consistently advanced at the Leobendorf and Tulln sites. Around 480 employees work for Kwizda Agro in Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania, and the USA. Through its international network, the company provides digital, data-driven services that enable locally adapted and sustainable crop protection. In this way, Kwizda Agro contributes significantly to resilient agricultural crops and healthy gardens as places of recreation.
More information: http://www.kwizda-agro.com/
To download the press release as a PDF file, please click here.
Media Contact:
Kapp Hebein Partner
Michaela Hebein
Email: mh@khpartner.at
Phone: +43 1 2350 422-70
Photo download (free of charge, copyright: Kwizda Agro GmbH):
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Photo 1: UPSIDE® by Kwizda Agro is now also approved for use in vegetable and berry crops as well as in arable and ornamental plants.
