Innovation

DCM PEA-02®: the innovative and sustainable biocontrol product against fire blight

DCM PEA-02®, for which a European registration dossier has been submitted to the European Commission, will be the first bacteriophage-based biocontrol or plant protection product for use in horticulture in the European Union after a positive evaluation. It is an innovative and curative solution against 'fire blight', the bacterial plant disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora in apple and pear trees.

Bacteriophages, or phages for short, are viruses that infect bacteria, in other words, they are natural enemies of bacteria. The mechanism of action of bacteriophages is curative, while most other plant protection products against fire blight have a preventive effect.

DCM PEA-02® contributes to sustainable agriculture

The bacteriophages in DCM PEA-02® can only infect Erwinia amylovora. Because of the very specific mode of action of DCM PEA-02®, there is no impact on humans, animals or the environment. Bacteriophages are ubiquitous in nature and have a short lifespan outside their host. Because of all these properties, it can be concluded that DCM PEA-02® is a very sustainable alternative for the control of the bacterial disease fire blight in apples and pears.

DCM PEA-02® won the Gold Bernard Blum Award 2023 at the well-known Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting (ABIM) in Basel, Switzerland. This award is presented annually to the most innovative biocontrol product.

Fire blight in apple and pear orchards

Growers worldwide are facing fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora. This bacterium can infect more than 200 plant species of the rose family (Rosacea), which includes apple and pear trees. Today, fire blight is observed in more than 50 countries worldwide, posing a serious threat to pome fruit production.

Fire blight symptoms on apple and pear trees are brown-black discoloration and shrivelling of blossoms, leaves, twigs and fruit. When trees are severely affected by the disease, they die and must be felled and burned, leading to huge economic losses for fruit growers.

Fire blight symptoms on leaves, twigs and fruits

European registration application for DCM PEA-02® is being processed

DCM PEA-02® was developed specifically for the European market and contains a phage mixture that is tailored to the European population of fire blight. For this purpose, an EU-wide collection of fire blight isolates was built and extensively genetically characterized using innovative molecular techniques.

The European registration application is currently being processed. The biocontrol product DCM PEA-02® will be available on the European market as soon as the registration procedure has been completed.

Update: emergency authorisation in Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Germany, France and Greece

DCM PEA-02 has been granted a temporary authorisation from 1 March to 28 June 2026 in Belgium and Portugal, from 15 March to 12 July 2026 in Spain, from 16 March to 13 July 2026 in Germany, from 16 March to 14 July 2026 in France, and from 6 April to 4 August 2026 in Greece for use against fire blight in apple and pear trees.

Thanks to this emergency authorisation, our innovative biocontrol product is available during this period for professional growers facing this persistent disease.

For more information, please contact us.

Under the PHACT® platform, DCM is developing the next generation of biocontrol solutions based on bacteriophages

Use plant protection products safely. Before use, always read the label and product information, including the corresponding risk phrases and hazard symbols.