Corporate news | Agrolab

Sarah Hubert — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:43:27 +0000

Northern Zone Efficacy Guidance 2025 (Version 10) – Key Updates

Discover what’s new in Northern Zone efficacy guidance 2025 (Version 10). Learn updated PPP trial requirements to streamline EU registration.

Updated guidance on efficacy requirements in the northern zone

When applying for authorization of a plant protection product (PPP) in the EU Northern Zone, applicants must follow strict efficacy trial requirements. These are set out in the Guidance on Requirements for Efficacy Data for Zonal Evaluation of a Plant Protection Product in the Northern Zone.

A newly updated Version 10.0 (2025) has now been released. This guidance defines the minimum number, type, and conditions of field trials required to demonstrate product performance — making it central for companies seeking registration.

What’s new in northern zone efficacy guidance (2025, V10)

Here are the top 5 changes in the updated document:

Trials must now be summarized both according to EPPO Climate Zones and the Regulatory Zone.
For intended uses with multiple applications per crop, assessments must be made after each application.
Lower efficacy levels may be accepted if the product provides benefits (e.g., low-risk substances).
For herbicides and plant growth regulators, wheat selectivity trials no longer automatically cover spelt and durum.
At least two trials per EPPO climate zone per weed species are now required if the species is listed on the product label.

If you’re preparing a submission, these changes may impact your Biological Assessment Dossier (BAD).

Why this update matters for Applicants

For startups and established companies alike, understanding these updates is critical:

Delays in registration: Missing or misaligned efficacy data can postpone approval by months or even years.
Costly repeat studies: Trials that don’t meet Version 10 criteria risk rejection.
Conservative interpretations: Authorities in Northern Zone countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) may apply requirements strictly — making careful planning essential.

By aligning development strategies with, applicants can:

Save time
Reduce costs
Increase the chance of first-time dossier approval

Access the full Northern Zone efficacy guidance document

Download Northern Zone Efficacy Guidance (2025, Version 10) via the button below:

Access Efficacy Guidance

You can also access the Version 10 guidance on the Northern Zone Guidance via the official site .

Need Help Navigating the Update?

Agrolab specializes in guiding companies through the full regulatory process — from field trials to dossier preparation.

Talk to our consulting experts about how Version 10 impacts your PPP strategy.

Agrolab appoints new CEO – Press release

Sarah Hubert — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:45 +0000

Press release
Indslev, Nørre Aaby, Denmark – 1. july 2025

Agrolab is pleased to announce the appointment of Louise Lading as the new CEO of Agrolab Holding and the subsidiary Agrolab Field, effective August 4, 2025.

Louise Lading brings 20 years of experience in the life sciences and plant protection industry from her time at Bayer, including 12 years in leadership roles. Her work has spanned both Nordic and international teams, giving her a strong understanding of the market and stakeholder landscape.

“I am truly excited to start this new chapter and to work closely with Agrolab’s customers, colleagues and management team. Together, we will ensure that Agrolab remains the preferred partner through unique services and a strong customer focus,” says Louise Lading.

With a background in agronomy and a professional focus on regulatory science, product development, and strategic innovation, Louise Lading is well-positioned to lead Agrolab into its next phase. She brings strong expertise at the interface between technical development, regulation, strategic planning and business, combined with a passionate people leadership style and a collaborative, strategic mindset.

She shares Agrolab’s mission to ensure a safe and sustainable food supply, both for people and the environment, and sees great opportunity in driving innovation and collaboration forward.

Louise takes over the role from Martin Gejl, who will now fully dedicate his time to leading innovation and digital transformation efforts as Innovation Manager at Agrolab's R&D department. An effort to meet the company vision of expanding and developing our services in line with the evolving needs of our clients.

“We’re entering an exciting new chapter, and Louise brings the leadership, customer insight, and innovation mindset to support us in taking the next step. I am very excited and proud to announce that Agrolab will now have a CEO fully dedicated to this role, as it is what the organisation deserves,” says Martin Gejl.

Earlier this year, Agrolab restructured into two subsidiaries, Agrolab Field and Agrolab Consulting, to better reflect its increasingly specialised services and expanding client base. Sandra Schmidt Jørgensen will continue in her role as CEO of Agrolab Consulting, leading the company’s regulatory consulting services. The appointment of a dedicated CEO for Agrolab Holding and Agrolab Field supports this growth and reinforces Agrolab’s position as a trusted partner for scientific field trials, regulatory expertise, and future-forward agricultural solutions.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Sarah Aagaard Hubert
Marketing manager
+45 93 40 66 90
shu@agrolab.dk

About Agrolab

Agrolab is an independent contract research organisation (CRO) made up of two specialised subsidiaries: Agrolab Field, focused on field trials, and Agrolab Consulting, providing regulatory consulting services.
With over 40 years of experience and five stations across Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden. Agrolab supports clients both within and outside of the EU North Zone. Known for scientific precision, regulatory insight, and strong collaboration with authorities, Agrolab helps companies of all sizes bring safe, effective agricultural solutions to market.

Explore previous company news

Press release: Agrolab launches a new consulting company!

LEARN MORE

Agrolab's Drone Technology gets GEP-Approved for Field Trials

LEARN MORE

Indlægget Agrolab appoints new CEO – Press release blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

Press release: Agrolab launches a new consulting company!

Sarah Hubert — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:00:21 +0000

January 2025 - Agrolab is proud to announce an exciting new chapter in our journey as a leader in Northern Zone field trials and regulatory consulting. Starting January 2025, Agrolab will transition to a new organizational structure designed to enhance our consulting services and streamline operations. Agrolab will become two separate business entities covering each of two specialized areas of expertise: Agrolab Field and Agrolab Consulting.

A Natural Evolution for Growth
This restructuring reflects Agrolab's commitment to providing high-quality expertise in both field trials and regulatory consulting. By creating these distinct entities, our company aims to better serve clients and focus on the unique demands of each business area. Agrolab Field will continue to specialize in high-quality regulatory field trials, ensuring the trials meet the rigorous standards required for product approval. Meanwhile, Agrolab Consulting will focus on delivering in-depth Northern Zone regulatory advice and helping clients navigate the complexities of plant protection products, biostimulants and biocontrol registrations.

Sandra S. Jørgensen, who has been Agrolab’s director, will take on the role of CEO of Agrolab Consulting, where she will lead the expansion of regulatory consulting and advisory services. Sandra S. Jørgensen, CEO of Agrolab Consulting states, “Regulatory consulting is a field that requires agility, deep expertise, and close collaboration with clients and regulatory bodies. By becoming an independent company, we can sharpen our focus and ensure that we remain at the forefront of the industry.”

Kenneth Sørensen will take on a role in Agrolab Consulting as Chief Consultant, focusing on client partnerships and business development. “This change is a natural evolution of our business,” says Kenneth Sørensen. “By dividing our expertise into two specialized companies, we are positioning ourselves to deliver even greater value to our clients. This structure also allows our teams to focus more deeply on their areas of expertise and sets the stage for interdisciplinary innovations.”

What This Means for Agrolab’s Clients
Clients of both Agrolab Field and Agrolab Consulting can expect the same high level of service and dedication they have come to trust. This restructuring ensures that both teams can specialize further, while the combined efforts of Agrolab management provides the stability and strategic oversight needed to maintain consistency and quality in and between the two companies. Although Agrolab Field and Agrolab Consulting will operate as independent companies, they will continue to work closely together. This ensures that when clients seek support or trials from one company, they benefit from the combined expertise and seamless service provided by both entities.

This transformation represents Agrolab’s ongoing commitment to its mission: ensuring that agricultural products are safe, effective, and environmentally sustainable. With this new structure, Agrolab is better positioned than ever to support its clients in meeting the challenges of tomorrow.

For more information about the changes at Agrolab, please contact:

Sandra S. Jørgensen
CEO of Agrolab Consulting
sns@agrolab.dk
+4527516275

Indlægget Press release: Agrolab launches a new consulting company! blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

World soil day 2024: reflecting on regulatory initiatives

Sarah Hubert — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:53:48 +0000

Today, shaping the future of crop production and plant protection means expanding and utilizing knowledge about how biocontrol and factors influencing crop health along with soil biota can support crop production. The soil microbiome and how it directly or indirectly interacts with crops is essential to crop health and is a key factor in protecting soil health and governing yield and crop productivity.

On December 5th, 2024, we celebrate World Soil Day, a global initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The theme of the 10th anniversary of World Soil Day is “Caring for soils – measure, monitor, manage”, which in many ways reflects ongoing development in the crop protection area.

At Agrolab, we are proud of our 40+ years of experience in testing and supporting the registration of plant protection products and biostimulants in the EU northern regulatory zone. We are excited to follow the investments and research into leveraging soil microbiota and soil health in the implementation of biosolutions in crop production.

As a contract research organisation, we are happy to see the collaborative efforts in the northern zone to tackle the challenges in risk assessment and support the regulatory approval process on a European scale.

And things are indeed busy in the north.

A key example is the EMBARQ project (Evaluating Microbiome-Based Applications for Risk Quantification), which recently received a DKK 60 million grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Led by Professor Søren Sørensen from the Institute of Biology of University of Copenhagen, EMBARQ addresses the critical gap in risk assessment methods for microbiome-based biosolutions, such as biofertilizers and biopesticides, essential for sustainable agriculture.

Current regulatory frameworks often delay the approval process. EMBARQ aims to develop tools to better assess the health and environmental impacts of microbiome applications using advanced technologies like DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and AI.

On World Soil Day, as we reflect on the importance of preserving and enhancing soil health for sustainable agriculture, we asked Søren Sørensen to share his perspective on how EMBARQ’s ambitions to develop innovative risk assessment tools could pave the way for approving microbiological biosolutions and advancing crop protection practices:

"The EMBARQ project stands at the forefront of transforming how we assess and approve microbiological biosolutions. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as environmental DNA sequencing and AI-driven analysis, EMBARQ introduces innovative tools for risk quantification. These tools go beyond traditional methods, allowing for precise tracking of biological agents in the environment and calibrating risks against natural microbial fluctuations.

I believe that EMBARQ’s framework will facilitate streamlining of the regulatory approval processes for microbiological biosolutions, fostering greater confidence among stakeholders. This will pave the way for broader adoption of these eco-friendly alternatives, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, and ultimately advancing sustainable agricultural practices that align with the European Green Deal's goals." Søren Sørensen states.

Another very noteworthy development is the recent release of the report “Biosolutions – Regulatory Sandboxes as a tool to break down regulatory barriers ” by Professor, Dr. Juris Linda Nielsen proposing to launch a regulatory sandbox within plant protection products is another interesting development opening up new opportunities to address the regulatory approach to biosolutions in new ways.

These initiatives are well-positioned to make a significant impact on the approval process of biocontrol products.

As our CEO, Kenneth Sørensen states: "It is a truly exciting time to be in the plant protection product consulting and service industry. Our ambition is that with the expanded knowledge of soil microorganisms and developments of new risk assessment methods and the creation of regulatory sandboxes new regulatory tools and field trial methodology will also be available in the CRO part of the supply chain".

Indlægget World soil day 2024: reflecting on regulatory initiatives blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

New State Fee for Plant Protection Product Applications in Lithuania

Sarah Hubert — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:21:55 +0000

As of August 1, 2024, Lithuania has implemented a new state fee structure for plant protection product applications. This change affects all companies seeking to register and market plant protection products within the country, marking a significant update in Lithuania's regulatory landscape.

Please find the link for the new state fee here:

In English: https://vatzum.lrv.lt/public/canonical/1723201906/21914/State%20fee%202024-08-01.pdf

In Lithuanian: https://vatzum.lrv.lt/public/canonical/1723200804/21913/Valstyb%C4%97s%20rinkliavos%20nuo%202024-08-01.pdf

Let us assist your product registration

If your company is planning to register plant protection products in Lithuania, it's crucial to understand how these changes may impact your budget and timelines. Navigating the complexities of regulatory changes can be challenging, but that's where our expertise comes in. At Agrolab, we specialize in regulatory consulting services that help you manage and optimize your product registration process across the EU North Zone, including in the newly updated Lithuanian market.

Our team of experienced professionals is here to guide you through the intricacies of the new fee structure, ensuring that your applications are compliant and that your products reach the market without unnecessary delays. Whether you need assistance with dossier preparation, data collection, or understanding the full impact of the regulatory changes, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Get Started Today

Don’t let regulatory changes slow down your product development. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you with your plant protection product applications in Lithuania and beyond.

Funding Available for Alternative Plant Protection Product Approvals

Sarah Hubert — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:38:29 +0000

15 July 2024

We’re excited to share some great news for small companies and startups in the plant protection industry. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen) has opened a new funding round aimed at supporting the approval of alternative plant protection products, including low-risk and microbiological solutions.

Key Highlights

As part of the Pesticide Strategy 2022–2026, this funding aims to increase the availability of alternative plant protection products that offer better health and environmental profiles compared to traditional synthetic agents. A total of DKK 1 million is available for this round, with applications accepted until September 13, 2024.

Who Can Benefit?

This grant is ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises looking to obtain approval for alternative pesticides. It covers:

Up to 60% of eligible costs for data collection, such as residue studies and efficacy trials.
Additional 20% funding for small businesses, as per EU definitions.
Full support for preparing dossiers and applications for EU basic substance list inclusion.
Partial reimbursement of approval fees for low-risk and microbiological products.

Application Process

To apply, submit a completed and signed application form by the deadline, September 13, 2024, at 23:59. Detailed instructions and forms are available on Miljøstyrelsen website.

How Agrolab Can Support You

At Agrolab, we specialize in supporting companies through the approval process in the EU North zone with our extensive experience in data collection, consultancy, and dossier preparation. Our team is ready to assist you in making the most of this funding opportunity and ensuring your product meets regulatory standards.

For more details and to apply, visit Miljøstyrelsen website.

Indlægget Funding Available for Alternative Plant Protection Product Approvals blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

Press Release: Agrolab kicks off 2024 with strategic management changes

Kenneth Sørensen — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:57:08 +0000

Agrolab A/S is excited to announce that we are kicking off 2024 with a reorganization of our management and implementing new roles to support our future endeavors.

In response to the evolving demands of the industry, Agrolab is presenting some changes to its leadership team. The goal is to ensure focused attention on important areas and align the company with its new strategic direction.

From today’s date, Sandra Jørgensen, Kenneth Sørensen, Carl Jensen and Betina Lindemann will take on new roles.

Kenneth Sørensen
CEO

Sandra Jørgensen
Director

Carl Jensen
Head of Sales & Finances

Betina Lindemann
Head of Operations

Our former Director, Kenneth Sørensen, will take on the role of CEO going forward. As part of this initiative, Carl, previously managing multiple responsibilities as CEO, will now devote his full attention to sales and finances as head of this department. This shift is expected to enhance the company’s financial strategies and streamline its sales efforts.

Taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kenneth will now serve as the front figure of Agrolab, leading the business into its next phase of growth.

“I am looking forward to continuing the good cooperation with the management team in Agrolab. With this new reorganization of management, we have laid the foundation to pursue the company goals of providing services, consultancy and creating new partnerships in a rapidly changing European plant protection industry,” says Kenneth Sørensen.

Sandra Schmidt Jørgensen, Head of Regulatory Consulting and former Operational Manager will take on Kenneth’s former role as Director of Agrolab. She will remain Head of Regulatory Consulting simultaneously with her new Director role.

“I am very grateful that the board and top management have confidence in me and my abilities and believe that I can further develop Agrolab. Therefore, it is my mission to increase Agrolab’s market share and market value by developing our services, developing our employees, and developing our leadership“, says Sandra Jørgensen.

Sandra will concentrate on development efforts for both the company and its services. Sandra’s focus extends beyond traditional development; she is dedicated to fostering an engaged and motivated workforce ensuring the company is poised for a future of sustained success and growth under this evolved leadership structure.

Betina Valentin Lindemann will take on a new role within Agrolab as Head of Operations. With this new role, she will be in charge of optimizing the operation and productivity of our core business, our field trials. She will be leading the development of our managers and employees.

These role changes align seamlessly with Agrolab’s new strategy, acknowledging the industry’s constant change, sustainability demands, and evolving employee expectations. This move underlines Agrolab’s commitment to continuous improvement, adapting to industry changes, and fearlessly making decisions to reach our highest potential.

For inquiries regarding the news please contact CEO, Kenneth Sørensen at ks@agrolab.dk

Indlægget Press Release: Agrolab kicks off 2024 with strategic management changes blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

What’s new in the Northern Zone guidance v11.1 – Part 1: Environmental fate

Kenneth Sørensen — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 14:20:17 +0000

The new Northern Zone guidance document, version 11.1, has become applicable from November 2023 and needs to be followed in all new submissions. Some cMS however are asking for national addenda to be compliant with the new version, even if the zonal submission was done before it entered into force.

Below is a summary of notable changes in the section Environmental Fate. In future news articles, we will look at the changes in the other sections.

Notable changes in Environmental Fate:

PECsoil

PEC-values for a soil depth of 5 cm should always be reported, even if a refinement to 20 cm depth is done for the years before the last application.

Groundwater

Simulations with an annual application should always be reported.
The program AppDate 3.06 is required to be used when selecting the application dates for all FOCUS PELMO and PEARL scenarios.
A clarification was added that all Swedish scenarios are required for an authorization in Sweden, and surrogate crops must be modelled if the desired crop is not implemented; PLAP-data may be used in place of scenarios Näsbygård and Önnestad (instructions in Appendix V).
PEARL-modelling is required in addition to PELMO for Finland and the Baltic countries.
The trigger value for passing the groundwater assessments for active substances and relevant metabolites is now specified as ≤ 0.10 µg/L for all countries.
In Finland the same value now applies even for non-relevant metabolites, unless they are evaluated up to Step 5
Denmark now allows 5 years crop rotation for onions.
Alkaline endpoints are now relevant for Denmark.

Surface water

New criteria for when Step 3 modeling is not required.
Detailed instructions on how to choose the correct application dates with the program AppDate 3.06.
For Latvia: if acidic soils do not represent worst-case conditions for PECsw, the whole data set of degradation and adsorption values (acidic and alkaline merged) can be used.
For Norway, results need to be obtained for at least one D and one R scenario. If a crop is not parameterized in any of the required scenarios, or it is parameterized for only R or D scenarios, a similar crop (surrogate) must be selected to obtain results for at least one D and one R scenario.

The guidance document can be downloaded here:

Cooperation in the Northern Zone – The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (mst.dk)

If you have questions on the new update or the registration of plant protection products in the Northern Zone, contact Regulatory Affairs Specialist Mandy Rauch at mr@agrolab.se or +46 730 58 67 68.

Indlægget What’s new in the Northern Zone guidance v11.1 – Part 1: Environmental fate blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

New requirements for adjuvants to plant protection products

Kenneth Sørensen — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:43:07 +0000

The Swedish Chemicals Agency, Kemikalieinspektionen, has announced that they will be requiring more information about adjuvants in applications for authorization of plant protection products from January 1, 2024.

This will include the complete composition of the adjuvant and proof of its compatibility with the plant protection product.

The use of an adjuvant will in the future be regulated in the conditions of use of every individual plant protection product. The changes will concern both obligatory and recommended adjuvants.

The reason for the expanded requirements is that since March 24, 2023, adjuvants must not contain substances that are listed in Annex III of regulation 1107/2009.

More information about the news can be found on Kemikalieinspektionen’s website.

If you have questions about the registration of plant protection products in the Northern Zone, contact Head of Regulatory Consulting, Sandra Jørgensen at sns@agrolab.dk.

For specific project inquiries, contact Director Kenneth Sørensen, ks@agrolab.dk.

For more articles like this visit our industry news and updates page. Follow our LinkedIn to stay notified of future news posts.

Indlægget New requirements for adjuvants to plant protection products blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

Management news: New Station Manager in Lithuania

Kenneth Sørensen — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 06:03:30 +0000

Agrolab is happy to announce that Rūta Žitkutė will be taking over as Station Manager at Agrolab’s field station in Mažeikiai, Lithuania. Rūta has been with Agrolab since 2019 serving in several different roles. She started her journey as field assistant to complete internship mandatory to all Agronomy students in Vytautas Magnus university Agriculture academy. Now she is seeking her Master ‘s degree in Ecology and preserves her journey in Agrolab with new challenges.

Indlægget Management news: New Station Manager in Lithuania blev først udgivet på Agrolab.

Corporate news | Agrolab

Northern Zone Efficacy Guidance 2025 (Version 10) – Key Updates

Updated guidance on efficacy requirements in the northern zone

What’s new in northern zone efficacy guidance (2025, V10)

Why this update matters for Applicants

Access the full Northern Zone efficacy guidance document

Need Help Navigating the Update?

Related Reading

Explore previous company news

Agrolab appoints new CEO – Press release

Explore previous company news

Press release: Agrolab launches a new consulting company!

World soil day 2024: reflecting on regulatory initiatives

New State Fee for Plant Protection Product Applications in Lithuania

Let us assist your product registration

Get Started Today

Funding Available for Alternative Plant Protection Product Approvals

Key Highlights

Who Can Benefit?

Application Process

How Agrolab Can Support You

Press Release: Agrolab kicks off 2024 with strategic management changes

What’s new in the Northern Zone guidance v11.1 – Part 1: Environmental fate

New requirements for adjuvants to plant protection products

Management news: New Station Manager in Lithuania