Leuven, Belgium, March 11, 2026
AIF’s portfolio company Protealis, the European specialist in non‑GMO legume seeds and seed technologies, today announces several milestones that significantly strengthen its position in a fast-growing European soybean market. The company has obtainend European regulatory approval for MagNfix™, its first biological seed inoculant, and registered five new high‑performing soybean varieties in four countries. With regulatory approval for its biological solution and an expanding portfolio of high‑performance, climate‑adapted soybean varieties, Protealis is now fully geared to scale commercially with ready‑to‑sow soybean seeds to farmers across Europe in the years to come.
Key milestones for European soybean cultivation
The European regulatory approval of MagNfix™, Protealis’ proprietary soybean seed inoculant, marks a major milestone for the company’s biological program. This officially positions Protealis in the market for biological inputs—an important complement to its existing seed breeding activities. MagNfix™ contains a Bradyrhizobium bacterial strain selected for its adaptation to European soils and is applied through a seed‑coating technology. In independent multi-location registration trials, the product demonstrated yield increases of +31% on average compared to reference inoculants and a +7% improvement in protein content versus peers2. The formulation offers a shelf life of up to three months and is delivered as a ready-to-sow coated seed, eliminating the need for on-farm inoculation and delivering a time-efficient, scalable solution for large-scale farming operations.
At the same time, Protealis succeeded in the registration of five new soybean varieties, expanding its portfolio from 9 varieties in 2025 to 14, spanning the 0000, 000, and 00 maturity groups, tailored to diverse European climate zones. The new varieties contain non‑GMO soybean genetics specifically developed to thrive across colder northern and north-central European regions, including northern France, Belgium, Germany and emerging eastern markets such as Poland. All five soy varieties consistently outperformed competitors in independent multi‑location registration trials. The new launches include:
- PRO Hekla (MG 0000 – France): first ultra‑early soy variety for colder areas
- PRO Dinara & PRO Katla (MG 000 – Poland): marking Protealis’ entry into one of Europe’s fastest‑growing soybean markets
- PRO Erebus (MG 00 – Germany): combining high yield with excellent early canopy coverage – a crucial trait that supports natural weed suppression
- PRO Bingo (MG 000 – Belgium): strong balance between yield and protein content, with excellent canopy closure
A cultivation solution tailored to European farmers
The combination of an expanding portfolio of high‑performing soybean varieties and now also a proprietary inoculant enables an integrated, ready‑to‑sow solution adapted to European growing conditions. By better aligning breeding and technology with European soil and climate realities, the company helps remove long‑standing barriers, making soybean cultivation in Northern Europe a realistic and profitable prospect again.
For farmers, this translates into a concrete advantage: a scalable, locally attuned cultivation solution that offers more reliable yields and can be easily integrated into existing crop rotations. This creates new economic opportunities and contributes to a stronger European production ecosystem for plant‑based proteins.
Protealis will initiate a phased pre‑commercial rollout of MagNfix™ during the current season with selected distribution partners in key markets including Poland, France, and Germany. A broader commercial launch is planned from 2027 onward.
Full press release:
https://www.protealis.com/press-releases/protealis-announces-regulatory-approval-of-its-first-biological-solution-mag-nfix-tm-and-launch-of-five-new-soybean-varieties
About Protealis
Protealis develops superior plant protein seeds and seed technologies, optimized for the European soil and climate. Being at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, Protealis aims to empower European farmers with sustainable and resilient alternatives to traditional protein sources by developing legume seed solutions with enhanced crop yield and protein levels, while at the same time minimizing the ecological footprint. By addressing the growing demand for more plant-based protein sources, the company is committed to contribute to more sustainable food systems. Today, Protealis is a commercial-stage company with nine early maturity soy varieties on the market and a yellow pea program in the pipeline. The company is headquartered in the biotechnology cluster in Ghent, Belgium. More info on www.protealis.com, LinkedIn or facebook.
About AIF
Agri Investment Fund BV (“AIF”) is the private equity and venture capital fund of the group Boerenbond (Farmers’ Union) and wishes through its investments to contribute directly or indirectly to a stronger and more sustainable agriculture and horticulture in Flanders and German speaking Belgium. Its investments have a focus within the Ag-Tech and Agro-Food domains aiming at stimulating innovation and as such helping to build a stronger agriculture of the future, allowing farmers and horticulturists to provide high-quality products at honest prices. More information can be found on www.aifund.be.
For further information, please contact:
AIF
Patrik Haesen, CEO
T: +32 (0)16 28 62 54 | E: pers@aifund.be
Protealis
Renate Degrave, Head of Communications and Marketing Protealis
T: +32 471 53 60 64 | renate.degrave@protealis.com
