Agriodor, a French agricultural technology company specializing in scent-based biocontrol solutions, has raised €15 million (US$17.7 million) in Series A funding to expand its innovative approach to crop protection globally.

The company’s technology uses natural plant scents to influence insect behaviour, offering farmers a sustainable alternative to traditional pesticides. The company says this approach addresses critical challenges such as insecticide resistance, biodiversity loss, and environmental impact. Agriodor’s solutions are designed to attract, repel, or disrupt pest insects, providing effective crop protection while preserving ecosystems.

Alain Thibault, co-founder and president of Agriodor, emphasized the transformative potential of the company’s technology: “We are convinced that the future of crop protection lies in biology, not chemistry. With this funding round, we mark Agriodor’s transformation – from a leading French agtech startup into a global specialist in scent-based biocontrol. Our technology provides farmers with an effective tool to protect yields while preserving the environment and human health.”

Dr. Ené Leppik, co-founder and CTO, highlighted the innovation behind their approach: “Olfaction is a universal language for insects, and we cracked it. Our technology represents a revolution in crop protection – high-performing, residue-free and biodiversity-friendly – that can be used alone or in combination with any other crop protection tool.”

Agriodor’s first product, targeting sugar beet aphids, is already helping French farmers combat yellows virus through an exclusive distribution agreement with Syngenta. The company plans to expand its portfolio to address pests affecting other crops, such as fruit flies, whiteflies, and thrips, which represent a market worth over $4 billion.

The funding will enable Agriodor to accelerate its international expansion in Europe, Latin America, and North America, while strengthening its research and development capabilities through artificial intelligence. The company’s innovative platform has already achieved a global milestone by deploying a semiochemical (allomone) in row crops, with successful applications in sugar beet fields in France.

Founded in 2019 as a spin-off of INRAE, Agriodor operates two laboratories in France and collaborates with 15 R&D partners across Europe, China, and Brazil. With eight patents and a multidisciplinary team of 42 specialists, the company is poised to redefine crop protection and contribute to a more sustainable agricultural future.

The funding round was led by the Environmental and Solidarity Revolution Fund, managed by Crédit Mutuel Impact, with participation from regional funds and historical investors, including Capagro, CapHorn, and SWEN Capital Partners.

READ MORE about how Agriodor’s olfactive technology redefines crop protection, here.