Koppert has been nominated for the GreenTech Innovation Award 2026 with Limonica Ulti‑Mite, a groundbreaking biological solution for thrips control that sets a new benchmark in performance, reliability and sustainability in protected horticulture.
The GreenTech Innovation Awards recognise the most unique, high‑tech and advanced technological innovations in horticulture with a market presence of no longer than one year. Per category, only three pioneering companies are nominated, highlighting technologies with the potential to truly transform the industry. The winners will be announced on the first day of GreenTech Amsterdam 2026.
A true breakthrough in biological control
Limonica Ulti‑Mite builds on Koppert’s global leadership in biological crop protection but represents a decisive step beyond existing predatory mite solutions. It is the first time that the highly effective predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus has been successfully integrated into a patented slow‑release sachet system.
Historically, A. limonicus was considered too complex and unstable for large‑scale commercial application. By combining this high‑performance mite with the innovative Ulti‑Mite sachet, Koppert has transformed a difficult and labour‑intensive control method into a robust, scalable and reliable solution for growers worldwide.
The sachet creates a controlled micro‑environment in which mites reproduce continuously and are released gradually over several weeks. This ensures consistent biological control, even under fluctuating temperature and humidity conditions where conventional sachets and loose mite applications often underperform.
Designed for maximum performance and ease of use
Limonica Ulti‑Mite is positioned as a premium, next‑generation solution for thrips and whiteflies control in high‑value greenhouse and protected crops, including sweet pepper, cucumber, strawberry and ornamentals. It combines:
- One of the most effective predatory mites available
- A patented system ensuring stable, continuous release
- Reduced labour requirements and fewer reapplications
- Proven performance under high pest pressure
An effective solution to control invasive Thrips
The product has demonstrated strong effectiveness against invasive thrips species, such as Thrips parvispinus. This particular species, originating from Asia and now rapidly spreading through Europe and North America, is a growing and urgent challenge for growers worldwide, against which many existing biological and chemical alternatives fall short. Particularly in Almeria, Spain, the outbreak of T. parvispinus did pose a serious risk to Pepper and Cucumber growers, causing huge production losses and disrupting the IPM protocols used in the region as a standard for crop protection. The introduction of Limonica Ulti-Mite will provide an effective solution to safeguard yield and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides.
A new benchmark in reliability and sustainability
Compared to chemical insecticides and standard biological solutions, Limonica Ulti‑Mite delivers superior consistency, fewer interventions and improved cost‑efficiency over time. By maintaining stable predator populations in the crop, it reduces reliance on chemical inputs and supports residue‑free production that meets increasingly strict food safety standards.
From a sustainability perspective, the innovation delivers tangible gains. A small initial population multiplies inside the sachet, making optimal use of biological resources and reducing the production and transport footprint per effective unit of control. Fewer applications also mean lower labour inputs and reduced energy use, while the biological mode of action preserves beneficial insects and biodiversity.
Innovation with global relevance
The controlled slow‑release concept behind Limonica Ulti‑Mite is easily integrated into existing IPM programmes without infrastructure changes and is suitable for use across Europe, the Americas and selected regions in Africa and Asia. Beyond thrips control, the underlying technology also offers potential for future applications with other biological agents.
With this nomination, Limonica Ulti‑Mite is recognised as an innovation that successfully translates scientific excellence into practical, measurable value for growers and the environment alike, setting a new standard for reliable biological control in modern horticulture.
