Conventional crop protection waits for the problem: see the pest, spray the pest. Vaccines taught medicine a better idea — prepare the body before the pathogen arrives. Plants have an equivalent: induced systemic resistance, and VDAL™ is Pherobio's commercial technology that puts it to work.
Where VDAL™ Comes From
VDAL™ is a plant immune-activating protein originating from China Agricultural University, which Pherobio introduced and commercialized in 2018. It became the plant-health pillar of our integrated green pest management system — the counterpart to our insect-side semiochemical portfolio.
What It Actually Does
- Activates the plant's systemic acquired resistance (SAR) signaling pathways.
- Primes structural and chemical defenses ahead of infection and pest pressure windows.
- Being protein-based, it degrades naturally in the field — no residue concern for export markets.
The strategic shift is real: instead of chasing damage after it appears, the crop enters the season with its defenses already switched on. Growers describe the difference as "protecting the crop" rather than "rescuing the crop."
Why It Pairs Perfectly with Pheromones
Insect pheromones manage the pest; VDAL™ strengthens the plant. Run together with mating disruption for the key moth pest and monitoring lures plus AIM smart devices for timing, and you have a complete stack: behavior control on the insect side, immune priming on the plant side, and data connecting both. That is the full Pherobio IPM system — from reactive control to proactive defense.