Echo CCIF · May 2026

Living biostimulants to regenerate soils

Faced with soil erosion and the limits of chemical inputs, innovative solutions are emerging. Neuchâtel-based start-up Symactiv is developing “living” pellets designed to improve crop yields sustainably while regenerating soils. Its mission? To make biology the new driving force of agriculture.

Symactiv's technology is based on pellets containing micro-organisms, in particular mycorrhizal fungi, fed and protected by an organic matrix made from recycled mushroom substrates. Spread with conventional farm machinery, they recreate natural mechanisms in the soil that promote microbial activity, nutrient uptake and soil structure.

Founder Louis Becker compares the way Symactiv works to a city resting on three pillars that ensure its sustainability. The micro-organisms are its inhabitants, responsible for the activity. Carbon plays the role of the food resources they need to grow. Finally, biochar improves soil structure, like infrastructure.

According to initial trials carried out between 2023 and 2025, the use of these biostimulants results in a significant increase in yields – around 15 to 20% – better water retention – also 15 to 20% – and an effective reduction in crop diseases. Landscapers and winegrowers who are already customers also benefit from a promotional video production service.

In the canton of Fribourg, where agriculture and the food industry hold a strategic place, this type of innovation opens up concrete prospects for reconciling economic competitiveness and sustainability. By reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers and restoring soil fertility, solutions like Symactiv's meet the expectations of farmers, distributors and public policy.

Photo caption: “Living pellets” inspired by nature