1988
At the traditional Institute for Oil and Forage Plant Breeding in Malchow (Germany) on the Baltic island of Poel, a team of researchers were commissioned to provide pesticide inoculum material from Sclerotinia trifoliorum for the artificial infection of red clover for resistance tests.
Their work was occasionally unsuccessful. Detailed investigations showed that the survival structures (sclerotia) of the pathogen were attacked by Coniothyrium minitans, a naturally occurring antagonist of Sclerotinia spp.
One of the researchers (Dr. Peter Lüth, now managing director of PROPHYTA) was convinced that this fungus would be very effective as a biocontrol agent against Sclerotinia diseases.


1992
Funded by the local government, PROPHYTA was founded by Dr. Peter Lüth, Ute Eiben and Heike Pfeffer to develop a biological plant-protection agent based on C. minitans.
Since 1970 several institutes in all parts of the world have been working with C. minitans searching for technologies for the production of a practical plant protection product based on this fungus.


1992-1995
Thanks to the intensive research work and innovative developments of its highly qualified and experienced staff, PROPHYTA has developed a unique solid state fermentation technology for the mass propagation of filamentous fungi. Beyond that a new filter technique for the separation of the conidia of C. minitans from the residues of the fermentation process and a formulation technology for the formulation of the final product have been developed. These technologies enable PROPHYTA to produce plant protection products based on filamentous fungi like C. minitans, which can be applied with conventional spraying equipment.


1997
Germany's first biological fungicide was registered. Contans^®WG was approved as a plant-protection agent for the prevention of lettuce drop caused by Sclerotinia. The name of Contans^®WG bases on CONiothyrium miniTANS. It is formulated as a water dispersible granule.


1999
After completion of the production plant PROPHYTA reached an important goal: The production biological plant protection products which can compete in efficacy and price with chemical products.


2000
Beginning of the production of Contans^®WG in industrial scale.


2001
The technology developed for the production of Contans^®WG can also be used for the production of other plant protection agents. On March 15, 2001 PROPHYTA acquired the licence for the production of a biological nematicide from an Australian company.


2002
The managing director Dr. Peter Lüth was honored for the development and production of biological pesticides with the "Deutscher Umweltpreis" Award 2002.


2003
Sales of BioAct^®WG have been started in particular countries.


2006
The second generation of BioAct^®, which now has a shelf life of up to 2  years, is market-ready. The new formulation is a water dispersible powder (WP).
With this significantly better shelf life of BioAct^®WP, the only competitive disadvantage is legalised. It is intended to change the already available registrations to the new formulation.