Ecospray

What Ecospray does

Ecospray Ltd is a privately held UK biopesticide company founded in 1996 and headquartered in Bury St. Edmunds, England. It develops and commercialises nematicide and insecticide products built on a patented chemistry platform called the DAS (diallyl polysulfide) fingerprint — a stabilisation process that converts natural garlic extract into a reproducible, high-efficacy polysulfide formulation addressing the historical inconsistency of garlic-based pest control. Core products include the Nemguard agricultural line (PCN, DE, and SC formulations) targeting potato cyst, root-knot, and free-living nematodes across vegetable, root, and salad crops, and the EGC turf line (Liquid and Granules), which is the only MAPP-approved nematicide for managed amenity turf in the UK. A liquid variant is also being commercialised in the EU under the brand Velsinum through Bayer.

Ecospray generates revenue through unit-priced product sales distributed via a network of regional partners — Bayer Crop Science (EMEA from 2026), Certis Belchim (UK and Europe for legacy Nemguard), CBC Europe / BIOGARD (Europe, and strategic equity investor since 2023), Bioline AgriSciences Africa and Dudutech (East Africa), Elgon Kenya (local repacking), and AST in partnership with CBC Biogard (Morocco). The company also captures licensing and registration royalty value through its EU Annex 1 approval for the garlic extract active substance, valid until 2036, and through registrations across more than 20 countries spanning 4 continents. Customer concentration is split across professional agricultural growers (potatoes, sugar beet, carrots, cucurbits, ornamentals), UK turf and amenity operators (Premier League football clubs, Premiership rugby stadia, major golf courses), and large East African floriculture exporters — most prominently Sher in Ethiopia (12,500 employees).

The go-to-market model is sales-led with strong event and distributor overlay: CEO Peter McDonald presents at industry conferences (CUPGRA, ABIM, Biopesticides Europe, PanAfrica Nematology), sales staff and regional managers (UK plus an East Africa team) co-design solutions with growers in field visits, and on-farm training programmes drive adoption among floriculture and vegetable exporters. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is set at defined unit volumes through distributor agreements, and the company has no public revenue disclosure despite a documented scale footprint across primary agricultural geographies in Europe, North Africa, and East Africa.

Name

Ecospray

Legal name

Ecospray Ltd

Website

https://ecospray.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ecospray is a UK-based biopesticide company that develops and commercialises garlic-extract nematicides and insecticides under the Nemguard, EGC, and Velsinum brands for professional agricultural growers, sports turf managers, and floriculture exporters across Europe, North Africa, and East Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopesticides

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (325320)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Botanical Biopesticides & Plant Extracts (Essential Oils, Neem, Pyrethrins) (AFABAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Natural/Green Pest Control Products (CRAJAHAK), Eco-Friendly/Organic Outdoor Pest Control (Botanical, Beneficials, IPM) (HSAIANAJ)

Keywords

• Garlic-based biopesticides
• Biological nematicides
• Natural crop protection
• Turf management products
• Agricultural biopesticides

Headquarters

HQ city

Thetford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biopesticide Product Sales: Ecospray generates revenue primarily through the sale of its biopesticide products, including Nemguard SC (suspension concentrate liquid), Nemguard DE (granular formulation), Nemguard PCN (granular for potato cyst nematodes), EGC Liquid (turf nematicide), and EGC Granules (turf). Products are sold through a distributor network globally and directly to turf customers in the UK. The company holds registrations across over 20 countries covering 4 continents.
2. Licensing and Registration Royalties: Ecospray licenses its garlic extract technology and holds EU Annex 1 approval for garlic extract until 2036. The company commercialises its technology through distributor agreements and partnerships (e.g., Bayer distribution deal for Velsinum™), generating licensing revenue from registrations and brand usage in different territories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ecospray develops, manufactures, and sells garlic extract-based biopesticide products (the Nemguard and EGC product lines) for nematode and pest control in agricultural crops and managed amenity turf. The company leverages its patented DAS fingerprint technology to produce stabilised polysulfide formulations, with products sold globally via a distributor network across more than 20 countries.

Product overview

Ecospray offers a portfolio of advanced biopesticides based on natural garlic extract for sustainable crop protection. The product line consists of two main sub-brands: Nemguard® (agricultural crop protection products including PCN, DE, and SC formulations) and EGC (turf and amenity management products including Liquid and Granules). All products utilise Ecospray's patented DAS fingerprint technology with stabilised polysulfide formulations. Nemguard products target nematodes and insect pests in vegetable, potato, fruit, and ornamental crops, while EGC products serve the turf management sector. The products work through multiple application methods including granule applicators, spray, drip irrigation, and soil injection systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nemguard: Garlic-based biopesticide nematicide product line for crop protection, including PCN, DE, and SC variants.
• EGC

Products and services

• Nemguard PCN A granular, non-systemic nematicide based on natural garlic extract, specifically formulated for the reduction of potato cyst nematode (PCN) populations in potato crops.
• Nemguard DE A granular nematicide based on natural garlic extract with stabilised polysulfide fingerprint, designed for application using a standard granule applicator. Provides nematode control in carrots, parsnips, lettuce, fruiting vegetables, and sugar beet with no MRL requirements.
• Nemguard SC A 99% garlic extract suspension concentrate liquid nematicide designed for versatile soil application via spray, drip irrigation, or injection systems across tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, aubergines, melons, cucurbits, and ornamental crops.
• EGC Liquid A 99% garlic extract liquid nematicide for managed amenity turf, applicable via spray, drip irrigation, or injection systems. The only nematicide approved for use on managed amenity turf in the UK.
• EGC Granules A nematicide formulated with 45% natural garlic extract for direct soil application via calibrated granule applicator. The only granular nematicide approved for use on managed amenity turf including sports fields, golf courses, and ornamental lawns.
• Velsinum A garlic-sourced biological liquid nematicide marketed by Bayer across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, providing a biological alternative to synthetic chemical nematicides in vegetable and potato crops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% mortality of cabbage stem flea beetle larvae at 4% application rate; 60% mortality at 2% rate (ADAS Boxworth trial)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bayer Crop Science DivisionflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 January 2025Bayer and Ecospray signed an exclusive distribution agreement on 23 January 2025 for Bayer to market Ecospray's biological liquid nematicide under the brand Velsinum™ across Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa starting in 2026. The product offers a biological alternative to synthetic chemical nematicides in vegetable and potato crops. Bayer's partnership aligns with its strategy to bring botanical and biological solutions to growers through its trusted brand and global commercialisation capabilities. Jens Hartmann, Regional Head for EMEA at Bayer's Crop Science Division, noted farmers need new effective solutions against nematode pests.
• Certis Belchim BVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 January 2025Certis Belchim BV is Ecospray's existing distributor in Europe for the legacy product Nemguard. The company has been instrumental in building the Nemguard market in Europe, particularly in carrots, parsnips, and sugar beet. Ecospray CEO Peter McDonald noted that Certis Belchim and CBC (Europe) SRL remain vital to the company's market development alongside the new Bayer partnership. Certis Belchim hosted an impressive field demo site in Belgium showcasing Nemguard to over 2,000 growers and visitors.
• CBC (Europe) SRLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2023CBC (Europe) SRL, the European arm of Japanese CBC Co. Ltd., distributes Ecospray products alongside its BIOGARD bioprotection portfolio. CBC hosted Global Agro Korea in Sicily to showcase how growers are integrating Nemguard into nematode management strategies. The company has been a distribution partner for several years and now also holds a strategic stake in Ecospray, deepening the relationship.
• Bioline AgriSciences AfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBioline AgriSciences Africa is Ecospray's distributor in East Africa, including Uganda, where Nemguard SC received full approval. The partnership involves joint field visits and grower engagement programmes. In March 2026, Lee Kaigai (Ecospray) alongside Bioline returned to Uganda to conduct on-farm training, understand grower pain points, and co-design end-user solutions tailored to local growing conditions for ornamental and export crops.
• DudutechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDudutech is a key distribution partner for Ecospray in East Africa, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia. The partnership includes joint visits to major flower producers and the launch of a local repacking operation in Kenya through customer Elgon. Dudutech and Ecospray teams collaborate on product promotion, field trials, and training. Notably, Dudutech worked with Ecospray to obtain PCPB approval for Nemguard SC on broccoli (insecticide for diamondback moth) and basil (nematicide) in Kenya.
• Elgon KenyaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElgon is Ecospray's local repacking partner in Kenya, handling repackaging of Nemguard products for the Kenyan market. A local repacking operation was launched in 2024 to meet rising demand from flower customers and support the new insecticide registrations. Reagan Ariw (Ecospray Regional Tech Support East Africa) oversaw the new operation with Elgon's team.
• AST (Agro Spray Technic)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAST (Agro Spray Technic) partnered with CBC Biogard to distribute Nemguard to Moroccan growers. Ecospray CEO Peter McDonald and Technical Director Dr Murree Groom joined AST and CBC Biogard in Agadir to meet over 100 Moroccan agronomists and advisors and demonstrate Nemguard's benefits to local growers.
• ICIPE (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICIPE in Kenya collaborated with Ecospray on research into Nemguard's efficacy against nematodes in potatoes. Miriam Kungu from ICIPE presented results of pot experiments with Nemguard against nematodes in potatoes at the PanAfrica Nematology Conference (Panema) in South Africa, held at the University of Mpumalanga.
• BBRO (British Beet Research Organisation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBRO worked with Ecospray and Certis Belchim to collect necessary data for gaining full approval of NEMGuard DE for sugar beet in the UK ahead of the 2022 season. BBRO conducted multi-season trials demonstrating the product's efficacy against Docking disorder caused by free-living nematodes, achieving results equal to Vydate and building grower confidence in the biological alternative.
• ADASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADAS Boxworth conducted independent field trials on Nemguard, finding amazing mortality results on cabbage stem flea beetle larvae — over 90% mortality at 4% application rates and 60% mortality at 2%. This research, led by Dr Duncan Coston and team, demonstrates the product's efficacy against a broader range of pests beyond nematodes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Bayer Crop Science: Global crop protection giant and Ecospray's flagship distribution partner for Velsinum™ across EMEA; overlapping biological nematicide portfolio and IPM programmes make it the most relevant broad-incumbent comparable despite Ecospray's specialty focus.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global agricultural chemicals and biologicals player with a portfolio that includes biofungicides and bionematicides competing for IPM program budgets in the same professional grower segments Ecospray serves.
• Syngenta Group: Global crop protection and seeds major with a growing biologicals pipeline and product overlap with Ecospray in vegetable, potato, and turf segments; relevant as a broad incumbent shaping the same biocontrol category.

Direct peers

• Koppert Biological Systems: Global market leader in biological crop protection and pollination, with a complementary nematode-management portfolio (including microbial-based products) that competes directly with Ecospray's Nemguard line for IPM budget in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental growers.
• CBC Co. Ltd. / BIOGARD: Japanese parent of CBC Europe Srl/BIOGARD - a strategic investor in Ecospray (since 2023) and a competitor via its own bioprotection portfolio, making it a directly comparable specialist biopesticide player with both a commercial and equity relationship to Ecospray.
• Eden Research plc: UK-listed, UK-based developer of naturally-derived biocides and pesticides using terpene-based chemistry, with a comparable size, business model, regulatory-driven model, and crop protection focus to Ecospray's specialty botanical biopesticide positioning.
• ProFarm Group (formerly Marrone Bio Innovations): Specialty biopesticide and plant health company offering microbial and botanical crop protection products globally; comparable in business model, regulatory-driven approach, and focus on professional agriculture and turf markets.
• Certis Belchim BV: Netherlands-based specialist biocontrol and crop protection company that is both an Ecospray distribution partner (UK/Nemguard) and a competitor in bionematicide and IPM products, making it the closest functional peer in botanical biopesticide distribution.
• Andermatt Group: Swiss-headquartered specialist in biocontrol and biopesticides with a broad portfolio of microbial and botanical active substances; directly comparable to Ecospray as a mid-sized independent biopesticide company with vertically integrated R&D, production, and global registrations.
• BioWorks Inc. US-based independent biopesticide and biocontrol manufacturer specializing in biological crop protection products (including bionematicides and biofungicides); directly comparable as a mid-sized specialty biopesticide company targeting professional growers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecospray-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecospray