The company was founded in 1979 and with the exclusive purpose of producing insect-attractants and insect-traps by Georgios N. Stavrakis (Agriculturist-Chemist & Ph.D. in Entomology). His research experience for over 25 years in olive production protection issues at the BPI (Benaki Phytopathological Institute) and the FAO program, combined with the principles of ecological agriculture that guided him during his life, led him to look for innovative ecological solutions in the pest control of the Fruit Flies and in particular against the Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) and the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata). After many years of research, observations and field experiments, effective mild non-toxic food attractants with selective action against target insects have been developed, to reduce losses of beneficial insects and arthropods.
The company's goal was and remains to this day the combination of attractant formulations with insecticides for bait sprays only when needed and the insect population in the area increases, threatening overall production.
In the process to protect the olive production from the Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) a wide range of methods, techniques and tools have been used and tested to date, but almost always with the use of toxic substances. For this reason, the company focused on the creating of the ELKOFON system which was based on the attractant that attracts the insect and the trap that leads the insect to its death (Attract and kill).
Since 1996 his son, Nikolaos G. Stavrakis (doctoral chemist of AUTH) has the direction and responsibility of the company.
In 2009, PHYTOPHYL achieved, as a registrant, the approval of the active substances of its products in accordance with EC regulation 1107/2009, in order to enable their licensing in the countries of the European Union. In the 2024 renewal, the two active substances were classified as low risk and its approval was extended until 2039. PHYTOPHYL products are registered in Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Portugal.
