What Valto does

Valto B.V. is a Dutch agricultural biotechnology company founded in 2005 by Leo Looije that develops and commercializes biological crop protection products based on cross-protection technology. Its flagship product, V10, uses two proprietary mild isolates (VX1 and VC1) of Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV) to inoculate tomato plants and protect them against aggressive viral strains (CH2, EU, and LP), while also suppressing US1 symptoms. A complementary product, V5, contains only the VC1 isolate for regions where the CH2 strain predominates. Application is performed once per cultivation cycle via a leaf-rubbing method at a standardized 0.8 L per hectare dosage, with full plant protection reached approximately three weeks after treatment. The company produces entirely in-house, holds ISO 9001 (since 2015) and CDG certifications, and operates a dedicated research greenhouse with 17 compartments in De Lier alongside its headquarters.

Valto's primary customers are commercial greenhouse tomato growers in the Netherlands and abroad. V10 is sold directly to Dutch growers, while international sales are channeled through a 2018 distribution partnership with Koppert Biological Systems. The company complements product sales with grower-facing technical support, including symptom photo assessment, in-person consultation, and post-application crop monitoring. Marketing reach is built through industry participation in Tomatoworld, World Horti Center, Artemis, IBMA, LTO Noord, and the Club van 100 at Wageningen University & Research, supported by a multilingual website in seven languages.

Valto operates as a privately held Dutch family business (DBA: Valto Biocontrol) currently led by Thorben Looije, who succeeded his father as Director in 2014. The company reached the regulatory milestone of becoming the first officially authorized natural cross-protection product against PepMV in the Netherlands in 2018, and has since pursued brand investment (the 2022 "Protected by Nature" corporate identity refresh) and operational scaling (new greenhouse in 2021, research team expansion in 2022). No external funding, M&A, or subsidiary structures are present in the available data.

Name

Valto

Legal name

Valto B.V.

Website

https://valto.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Valto B.V. is a Dutch privately held agricultural biotechnology company that develops and sells biological cross-protection products (V10 and V5) using mild Pepino Mosaic Virus isolates to shield commercial greenhouse tomato crops from aggressive viral strains, serving growers directly in the Netherlands and via Koppert Biological Systems internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biological Crop Protection

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Natural/Green Pest Control Products (CRAJAHAK)

Keywords

• Biological crop protection
• Tomato virus protection
• Cross-protection vaccines
• Horticulture biocontrol
• Natural crop solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

De Lier

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crop Protection Products: Valto generates revenue through the sale of biological crop protection products V10 and V5 to greenhouse growers. Products are sold directly in the Netherlands and through international distribution partners. The company handles production entirely in-house and provides technical support alongside product sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Valto develops and sells biological crop protection products that use mild virus isolates to cross-protect tomato plants from aggressive strains of Pepino Mosaic Virus (PepMV). The company produces V10 (dual-strain VX1+VC1) and V5 (single-strain VC1) in-house and distributes them directly in the Netherlands and internationally through Koppert Biological Systems, providing technical support and crop monitoring to greenhouse growers.

Product overview

Valto is an innovative Dutch family business specializing in natural crop protection for the horticulture industry. The company offers two main biological crop protection products: V10, the flagship product providing broad cross-protection against multiple Pepino mosaic virus strains (CH2, EU, and LP), and V5, a more targeted alternative specifically effective against the CH2 strain. Both products work through cross-protection technology using mild virus isolates to protect tomato plants from aggressive virus variants. Valto also provides follow-up crop monitoring and testing services after product application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• V10 Natural biological crop protection product using cross-protection technology to protect tomato plants from aggressive Pepino Mosaic Virus strains. Contains two mild virus isolates (VX1 and VC1) providing protection against EU, LP, and CH2 strains, with suppression of US1 symptoms. Standard dosage is 0.8 liters per hectare, applied by leaf rubbing. For commercial greenhouse tomato growers.
• V5 Natural biological crop protection product using cross-protection technology containing the single mild VC1 isolate of Pepino Mosaic Virus, providing targeted protection against the aggressive CH2 strain. Recommended when only the CH2 strain is present in the region. Standard dosage is 0.8 liters per hectare. For commercial greenhouse tomato growers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,111 hectares treated since research began
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Koppert Biological SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018In 2018, Valto entered a partnership with Koppert Biological Systems to offer V10 worldwide. Valto remains responsible for sales and distribution of V10 in the Netherlands, while Koppert handles sales and distribution in the rest of the world. Valto remains closely involved and provides support where needed.
• ArtemisminorOthersValto is a member of Artemis, the professional association of producers and distributors of biological control agents, pollinators, and natural crop protection products.
• Club van 100 (WUR)minorOthersClub van 100 at Wageningen University & Research aims to continuously innovate knowledge and research in greenhouse horticulture. Valto actively contributes and is a member.
• IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association)minorOthersIBMA represents manufacturers of biocontrol solutions globally. Valto actively participates and is a member of IBMA.
• TomatoworldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerValto is a partner of Tomatoworld, the information and education center for Dutch greenhouse horticulture. They demonstrate how knowledge, innovation and technology in horticulture contribute to solving global food challenges.
• LTO NoordminorOthersValto is a member of LTO Noord, the interest association for farmers and horticulturists. They form the link between members, government, society and business.
• World Horti CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerValto participates in World Horti Center, the knowledge and innovation center for international greenhouse horticulture sector where companies, education, research and government connect, inspire and share knowledge.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Koppert Biological Systems: Global market leader in biological crop protection and pollination. Directly comparable as Valto's international distribution partner for V10 and a broad biocontrol incumbent operating in the same greenhouse horticulture channel.
• Novonesis (Novozymes BioAg): Global biosolutions company with an agricultural biologicals arm (formerly Novozymes BioAg). Comparable as a large-scale producer of microbial and enzyme-based agricultural inputs serving row crop and horticulture markets.
• Syngenta: Global agrochemical and seed company with crop protection products for vegetables and greenhouse horticulture. Comparable as an incumbent competitor for crop protection spend in the same tomato grower segment.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global agricultural inputs provider offering fungicides, insecticides and biological solutions for specialty crops. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping greenhouse horticulture crop protection products.
• Bayer Crop Science: Global agrochemical and seed major with an expanding biologicals portfolio. Comparable as an incumbent crop protection provider competing for the same greenhouse tomato grower budget, albeit with a much broader chemical and seed offering.

Direct peers

• Certis Biologicals: Developer and manufacturer of biological crop protection products including biofungicides, bioinsecticides, and bionematicides. Comparable to Valto as a specialist biocontrol manufacturer serving agricultural growers.
• Andermatt Biocontrol: Swiss-based producer of biological plant protection products with strong presence in European greenhouse markets. Closely comparable to Valto in size, biocontrol focus, and European greenhouse customer base.
• Biobest Group: Major biocontrol and pollination company serving greenhouse horticulture worldwide. Comparable to Valto in serving greenhouse growers with biological alternatives to chemical pesticides, though with a much broader product portfolio and global footprint.
• BioWorks: North American biological crop protection company focused on biopesticides and biostimulants for horticulture. Comparable to Valto in offering biological alternatives to chemical crop protection in protected agriculture.
• Bioceres Crop Solutions (including Marrone Bio Innovations): Agricultural biologicals company developing biopesticides and biofertilizers through the Marrone Bio Innovations platform. Comparable to Valto as a focused biopesticide player pursuing alternatives to chemical crop protection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_zJhtX3YqQ5wKLK9lLLSjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/valtobv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valto-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/valtobv
• Xx.com/valtobv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Valto