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A start-up from Liège wants to replace the controversial active ingredient glyphosate in weedkillers with environmentally friendly essential oils. The company Apeo ("Agronomical Plant Extracts & Essential Oils"), founded after ten years of research at the University of Liège, reports encouraging results. Hassam Jijakli, professor at the university and co-founder of the company, says: "For years we studied thousands of essential oils that were available on the market at reasonable cost."
After experiments in greenhouses, Apeo says three oils deemed suitable were successfully tested in field trials in Belgium, southern France and the UK from 2019. Weeds would wilt shortly after the first application and would be eliminated seven to ten days later after a second treatment. The nine sprays can be applied with conventional equipment. Trials for approval in viticulture will begin this year, and the agent is to be marketed primarily in Europe and North America from 2026.
(al / Source: vitisphere; Photo: wikimedia commons)