InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the conference “Building value together”, organized by our associate FNOP - National Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organizations.
InPP's executive director, António Saraiva, moderated the panel “Sustainability that generates value: The role of ESG in the future of the sector”, which included interventions from Catarina Pinto Correia (VdA), Cristina Câmara (APED), Filipa Saldanha (Crédito Agrícola), Joana Oom de Sousa (Sovena) and Rui Veríssimo Baptista (Companhia das Lezírias).
The opening session was given by Domingos dos Santos, president of FNOP and a member of CoLAB's Board of Directors of our CoLAB.
The meeting brought together producer organizations, farmers, companies, experts and political decision-makers to discuss the current challenges and look to the future of the national fruit and vegetable sector.
With the participation of national and international experts, the conference was a privileged space for sharing experiences and strategic reflection, focusing on the organization of production and the role of public policies in promoting sustainable growth.
Congratulations to FNOP for the initiative and the ability to bring together a panel of excellent speakers, making this conference a relevant and topical milestone for the sector.
In viticulture, every little decision has an impact: on the soil, on the health of the plants and on the quality of the grapes that form the basis of the wine that reaches our table. The future of viticulture may depend on a single biosolution. Or a hundred. In VINNY, an ambitious European project of which InPP is a part, researchers from ten countries are looking for bioactives capable of curbing vine diseases - and, at the same time, reducing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals. What's at stake is not just science: it's the sustainability of this industry.
The aim of the VINNY project is simple but transformative: develop and implement effective, sustainable solutions and adaptable to the needs of winegrowers in various European countries, creating environmentally friendly biopesticides and biofertilizers, and advanced nano-encapsulation technologies, to reduce dependence on conventional chemicals and promote a healthier ecosystem and a better environment and a circular viticulture.
And at the heart of this mission is an essential cog in the wheel: the daily work of the researchers who search for answers invisible to the human eye - as is the case with Tiago Amaro, a researcher at InPP.
Image credits: VINNY Project
Searching for the Guardians of the Vine
The road to these new biosolutions begins in the field, with the vine. The initial work of Tiago Amaro, started in September 2024 and focuses on identifying and isolating microorganisms naturally present in the vines themselves, in samples received from partners in Portugal, Spain, Austria and Denmark.
From grapes, sticks or woody fragments, small microscopic worlds arrive in the laboratory that may contain the natural weapons needed to fighting three major threats to the vineyard, with a direct impact on farm profitability: - A gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) and blue mold (Penicillium expansum): Fungi that cause post-harvest diseases, In the case of wine grapes, this affects the quality of the wine and makes it completely impossible to sell table grapes. - The vine tumors: Caused by bacteria Allorhizobium vitis, This disease affects the plant in the field, causing leaf fall and reduced grape production.
Tiago Amaro, InnovPlantProtect researcher, identifying and isolating bacteria as part of the VINNY project. Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira
After isolating the microorganisms, Tiago dedicated himself to creating libraries of bacteria. What is a ‘Bacteria Library’? In the context of the investigation, a bacteria library is an organized and catalogued collection of bacteria isolated from different sources. It allows scientists to test each strain of bacteria against specific pathogens, constituting a vast catalog of potential biological ‘superheroes’ for plant protection.
This rigorous screening, which has already led to the analysis of more than 190 bacteria of this library is the first line of defense. The team selects the best candidates with the potential to be used as biological control agents against the diseases under study.
The Power of European Collaboration
What if the solution to protecting Portuguese vineyards is hidden in a Danish grape? Or in a bacterium isolated in Spain? One of the most exciting aspects of the project is its truly collaborative dimension, where researchers from ten countries are working in parallel, sharing answers, challenges and microorganisms in search of effective biosolutions for the whole of Europe.
“All the solutions found will be shared, all the solutions will be tested by all the partners and it will be possible to build a ‘library of solutions’ against the various vine diseases“ emphasizes researcher Tiago Amaro.
The sharing of bacteria and extracts from different ecosystems (Portugal, Spain, Denmark and Austria) is crucial. An effective bacterium in Denmark could be the key to protecting Portuguese vineyards, and vice versa. This exchange of biological solutions, one of the innovative pillars of the project, makes it possible to exploit the microbial biodiversity beyond national borders. InPP has the fundamental role of testing, in grapes, the solutions discovered by our team as well as by other national and European partners.
This diversity of tests is a bet on the future: microorganisms that don't prove effective against vine diseases could be the solution for pathologies in other crops.
Left photo: Tiago Amaro, InPP researcher, observing a grapevine leaf, the target crop of the VINNY project, Right photo: Potted grapevine plants in the InPP greenhouse, ready to test the solutions found by the various VINNY partners. Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira
The Real Test: From the Lab to the Field
After selection in the laboratory, the next step - the formulation of the most promising bacteria - will be carried out in Portugal and Spain, at the University of Minho and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. But it is in the field-testing phase that the greatest challenge of plant protection science lies, because even brilliant results in the laboratory can fail in the field. Formulation is the process that turns a bacterium into a product - stable, applicable and compatible with the farmer's needs.
Tiago Amaro emphasizes necessary resilience:
Field Uncertainty: Often, promising solutions in the laboratory or greenhouse are not as effective when applied in the field, due to environmental variables (climate, soil, etc.).
The Time Factor: Diseases such as Allorhizobium vitis may take a long time to develop, or the infection may not be relevant in certain years, which makes it difficult to obtain robust conclusions.
The Agricultural Cycle: It is necessary to test the formulation in the field during three to five consecutive years, and recording all the variations observed. With only one harvest a year, this process requires patience and persistence.
In total, from the discovery of a promising bacterium to the creation of a formulated product, proven to be effective and ready for the market, it can take around 10 years - a real test of any scientist's resilience.
Customized solutions: the new requirement of modern agriculture
The final challenge is to ensure that the tests are relevant to the producer's reality. The current trend in the agricultural sector is the search for customized solutions, adapted to the specific conditions of the farms: “There has to be a solution for every field and every farmer”, says the researcher.
This personalized approach requires more science, more rigor and more local knowledge - exactly what VINNY seeks to build.
A Europe united by science and the vine
InPP is part of this consortium, made up of 19 partners from ten countries, The project is led by the University of Minho and funded by the Horizon Europe program.
Together, they seek to answer a question that could shape the future of European viticulture: Will it be possible to find effective biosolutions for all partner countries?
The answer is still being written - in laboratories, in experimental vineyards, in fields in different climates and geographies. And it's made up of small discoveries, many frustrations and a huge commitment to science.
Because protecting the vineyard of the future is not just a technical ambition. It is a cultural, economic and environmental commitment. And VINNY is helping to design that future - one microorganism at a time.
The final workshop highlighted three years of research dedicated to the early detection of pathogens in crops such as wheat and olive groves.
The project AlViGen has reached its final stretch, concluding three years of research focused on the genomic surveillance of agricultural diseases. The results now presented promise to strengthen the Alentejo agricultural sector's ability to respond to emerging phytosanitary threats.
On the day October 23rd, The final project workshop, The event brought together researchers, producers and technicians to share results and reflect on the future of genomic surveillance in Portuguese agriculture.
A pioneering genomic surveillance center
During AlViGen, the Alentejo's first genomic surveillance center, an infrastructure with capacity for early detection of diseases in strategic crops such as wheat and olive grove. This breakthrough marks a decisive step towards a more precise, sustainable and science-based agriculture.
Results and scientific contributions
Using innovative molecular tools, the project team succeeded:
Identify pathogenic fungi before visible symptoms appear on the plants;
Characterizing yellow rust strains, genetically linking them to others known at a global level;
Detecting resistance genes in wheat to the strains currently present in Portugal;
Developing diagnostic methods able to distinguish the different species of the fungus that causes gafa in olive groves.
During the workshop, the potential of the analysis of the airborne fungi community as a tool for early warning for multiple pathogens, allowing for more effective and preventive management of crop diseases.
From research to practical application
The event ended with a debate on how transform AlViGen results in a detection and warning service accessible to the agricultural sector. The initiative reflects the joint commitment between science, innovation and production, with a view to protecting national agriculture from the challenges of the future.
Partnerships and thanks
InnovPlantProtect would like to thank all the partners and funders of the project: University of Évora, John Innes Centre, INIAV, De Prado, CERSUL, Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, Torre das Figueiras Estate, Almojanda, Malheiro Estate, Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV), la Caixa“ Foundation”, BPI Bank e Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
Last Monday, November 27, the closing session of the ABC project took place in the auditorium of the Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas (ESAE) of the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, a project led by InnovPlantProtect (InPP) and financed by the Environmental Fund under the National Environmental Education Strategy 2020 program. The aim of the event was to give the students a voice, in different formats (posters, videos and others) that portrayed the themes that were developed during the project: sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, ecosystem services, citizen science and the circular economy. Rádio Elvas was invited to the event, as was Councillor Hermenegildo Rodrigues, representing Elvas Municipal Council. The opening session of the event was attended by the Director of ESAE, Rute Guedes dos Santos.
The InPP team began by presenting a summary of the event's program in multimedia format (“flash news”: ABC news). This was followed by a video summarizing the activities carried out during the last year of the project, both in the classroom and in the field, namely at the Reynolds Wine Growers estate in Arronches. Next, a group of students and teachers were interviewed in order to hear directly from them how they experienced the ABC project and what it meant to them. The ABC news continued with presentations of the students' work, in various formats, on the project's themes. We started with specific work on endophytic microorganisms, where an ESAE student, Henrique Canha, had the opportunity to do his internship and explained how microbiology can be used to help farmers.
The next moment was dedicated to the theme of the circular economy. The students presented four videos in interview format, aimed at various groups in our society (students, teachers, environmentalists, technicians and farmers), focusing mainly on the importance of the circular economy, but not only. There was also time to read a letter encouraging circular economy practices, written by the students of the D. Sancho II Secondary School and addressed to the Mayor of Elvas, Comendador Rondão de Almeida. Councillor Hermenegildo Rodrigues had the opportunity to respond to the letter and to inform the audience about current circular economy practices and those planned for the near future in the Municipality of Elvas.
Another of the topics covered was ecosystem services in vineyards. The students decided to present this topic in the form of a scientific poster. In this space, the student authors were interviewed about various topics in vineyard agroecology and the different types of benefits (services) that can be obtained with this approach. The next panel, in video format and entirely coordinated by ESAE students, was dedicated to microbiome activities, with testimonies from Nélson Martins, farm manager at Reynolds Wine Growers, higher education students and researchers on the current relevance of agricultural management based on improving the soil microbiome.
The event continued with a surprise theatrical performance by a group of students from the D. Sancho II Secondary School. In this short play, the students acted out an argument between three actors from our rural environment (farmer, citizen and scientist) on the subject of organic farming vs. conventional farming. For the originality and audacity of the actors, this activity was awarded a prize by the project team. The event ended with the screening of a video on citizen science prepared by a group of students from the D. Sancho II Secondary School. The project team considered this video elaborate and surprising, and it was also awarded a prize.
The ABC project leaves behind an educational program that established a collaboration between InPP and the local school and which helped students become aware of the tools they have at their disposal to promote biodiversity in agriculture, participate in a citizen science project, embrace the circular economy, understand the value of natural resources and the types of ecosystem services they provide.
Poster promoting the final event of the ABC - AgriBioCircular project
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the 6th edition of NOVA Science & Innovation Day, promoted by NOVA University Lisbon, at the Rectory facilities on the Campolide Campus in Lisbon, on November 21st.
NOVA Science & Innovation Day aimed to showcase the science, research and innovation of excellence at the University and was a unique opportunity for the academic community, as well as the general public, to get to know the scientific work carried out at NOVA University Lisbon and how it translates into innovation and the creation of value for society.
Throughout the day, an Innovation Fair was also held in the Rectory atrium, as part of the initiative. Visitors to the Fair had the opportunity to learn about the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) and what it is already doing for crop protection and pest and disease prevention, with a highly qualified team and very broad and diverse skills.
Other CoLABs, proprietary technologies and specialized services were also represented at the Innovation Fair, Spin-offs and other companies in the University's ecosystem.
NOVA Science & Innovation Day was a unique opportunity for the academic community and the public to get a closer look at the work of excellence carried out at NOVA University Lisbon, and how it translates into innovation and the creation of value for society.
1st photo - InPP stand at NOVA Science & Innovation Day. 2nd and 3rd photos - Inês Ferreira, InPP's communications manager, on the right, representing InPP
NOVA Science & Innovation Day took place at the Rectory of NOVA University Lisbon
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was in Lisbon on November 16 for the 4th Annual Meeting of Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB), organized by the National Innovation Agency (ANI), which aimed to promote and monitor the activities and progressive evolution of the 41 currently recognized CoLABs, as well as their development in the context of regional, national and European research and innovation strategies.
The meeting, on the theme of “Innovation and Technological Valorization towards the Sustainable Development Goals”, brought together the CoLABs and some of the main players in the National Scientific and Technological System to participate in a discussion on the role of Research and Technology in addressing the SDGs, which was attended by some CoLABs, namely members of the BUILT CoLAB, from ForestWISE and DTX, They shared some of the best practices and success stories from their CoLABs. The moderator was Inês Sequeira, from Impact House.
Afterwards, the CoLAB had the opportunity to learn more about “Sustainable Funding Opportunities”, with the active presence of members of the European Commission, from the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Alentejo), the Mobilizing Agenda ILLIANCE, from the Mobilizing Agenda InsectERA - the ERA of insects, and ANI, as well as listening to the International Keynote, Jerry Sheehan, Director for Science, Technology, and Innovation, from OECD.
In the afternoon, CoLAB members had the opportunity to take part in a more practical activity, through a workshop that aimed to maximize the impact of the brand through collaboration. The annual CoLAB report was another of the topics covered.
This was an excellent opportunity to discuss how these entities can collaboratively contribute to solving the main challenges and most pressing issues of our time, putting innovation and knowledge at the service of society. It was also a moment to share good practices and exchange experiences.
Find out more about the event on the ANI website here.
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