In 2011, a major E. coli outbreak that affected consumers across Europe became the starting point of Elisabeth’s PhD work. Her goal was to identify bacterial strains capable of inhibiting the growth of pathogens that make us sick. After extensive screening of bacteria isolated from leafy greens in the lab, discovering strains with strong antagonistic activity was both a scientific breakthrough and the seed of something entirely new. These strains then had to undergo rigorous efficacy and safety testing before they could be considered for real‑world use. The few that passed all evaluations now form the foundation of VivoProtect, where Elisabeth serves as CEO.

Lola Sutton is a Product Developer at VivoProtect, where she helps turn our research into robust, user‑friendly solutions for growers and the fresh produce industry. With a strong background in product development and a keen eye for both scientific detail and practical application, she works across formulation, testing and optimization to ensure our microbial products deliver reliable performance from lab to indoors and greenhouse. Lola plays a key role in translating customer needs and trial results into concrete product improvements, strengthening VivoProtect’s mission to make leafy greens safer, healthier and more sustainable.