What is the Amoeba Project?
Amoéba is an industrial greentech company based in Lyon, an innovative player in the treatment of bacterial risk, operating at the crossroads of environmental protection and public health issues. The project develops a triple expertise—scientific, industrial, and commercial—to address multiple challenges. With a focus on the prevention of microbiological risks in water treatment, human wound care, and plant protection, the project is building upon the innovative use of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky. This micro-organism, isolated directly from the environment, is being leveraged in natural and effective ways, and, honestly… it’s pretty impressive!
Main Benefits and Key Figures
- Amoéba is developing a new natural fungicidal active substance for plant protection, a lysate of a protozoan.
- Based in Lyon, the company mixes a unique triple expertise: scientific, industrial, and commercial.
- The advanced use of Willaertia magna C2c Maky, especially its mechanically lysed form, has shown strong fungicidal properties against oomycetes responsible for downy mildew and other phytopathogenic fungi like rusts and powdery mildew.
- Laboratory tests and field trials have been regularly conducted since 2019, confirming the substance’s effectiveness.
- Notable milestones include market authorization in the United States for its biocontrol solution Axpera, along with prestigious awards and impactful reductions in copper usage for viticultural trials.
Innovative Micro-organism as a Game-Changer
The star of the show, Willaertia magna C2c Maky, is not just any microorganism; it is an innovative micro-organism whose properties have been discovered almost by chance during regulatory tests on biocides. Its potent antifungal properties were an unexpected but welcome twist—nature has a way of surprising those in the know, and this discovery has opened new doors. The use of the amoeba in a mechanically lysed form has ushered in a promising era for biocontrol in plant protection, emphasizing the synergy between nature’s design and technological advancement.
Research and Development Journey
Continuous research is at the heart of the Amoéba project, as further studies are being conducted to fully exploit the numerous properties of Willaertia magna C2c Maky. These investigations traverse the dynamic interface of health and environmental domains, exploring expanded applications from water treatment to human wound care. The R&D initiatives are not only validating current successes but are also paving the way for future advancements in sustainable bio-solutions, ensuring that the benefits of this innovative micro-organism reach as many contributing sectors as possible… and that future applications remain just as groundbreaking.
Did You Know?
It was by sheer chance, during tests conducted as part of the regulatory file on biocides, that the powerful antifungal properties of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky were discovered. Such serendipitous moments highlight how innovative solutions can emerge from unexpected findings, and serve as a reminder that research, when pursued with persistence, often leads to breakthroughs that surpass initial expectations. The project continues to build on this momentum, transforming laboratory surprises into real-world applications that benefit both industry and nature.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – by enhancing public health through effective microbiological risk treatment.
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – as the technology plays a vital role in water treatment processes.
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – promoting innovative greentech solutions and advanced research.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – through reducing the need for chemical fungicides.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – by protecting plants and enhancing sustainable agriculture.
Latest Developments and Future Outlook
Recent updates from the Amoéba project showcase a series of exciting milestones that underscore its ongoing innovation and market presence. On 29/10/2025, the 2025 report of the viticultural trials was presented, with Axpera proving its effectiveness against downy mildew and significantly reducing copper usage, an achievement that has already started shifting agricultural practices. Only a few days earlier, on 24/10/2025, the semi-annual financial report, as of June 30, 2025, became available, underlining the company’s strong financial and operational performance. Additionally, on 20/10/2025, Axpera was named the Biocontrol Solution of the Year 2025 and received the prestigious “Gold” award at the Bernard Blum Award 2025, further cementing its reputation in the field of innovative plant protection. Marking another significant milestone, on 16/10/2025, Amoéba received market authorization in the United States for its biocontrol solution, a development that opens up a new chapter for international market reach. For those interested in diving deeper into the project and its evolution, more detailed insights and ongoing updates are available on Amoéba’s website.
