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).
On November 16, we had the pleasure of attending the Annual Meeting of the Bioresources for Sustainability Unit. GREEN-IT, which he brought together at the Institute of Chemical and Biological Technology (ITQB NOVA), in Oeiras, the members of the Scientific Advisory Board and researchers from the various institutions that make up this Unit, such as InnovPlantProtect (InPP).
The director of the New Biopesticides department, Cristina Azevedo, was one of the guest speakers at the first talk and presented InPP, the work carried out by the five departments of the Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB), as well as the projects in which we are involved.
The aim of the meeting was to take stock of the Research Unit's situation in the areas of soil health, plant protection and production, as well as the plans for the Unit's new structure.
Special thanks to GREEN-IT for the invitation. It was a great networking moment!
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) will be present at NOVA Science & Innovation Day, promoted by NOVA University Lisbon, The event will take place next Tuesday, November 21, at the Rectory's facilities on the Campolide Campus.
NOVA Science & Innovation Day is an event that aims to showcase excellent science, research and innovation at the University and is a unique opportunity for the academic community, as well as the general public, to get a closer look at the scientific work carried out at NOVA University Lisbon and how it translates into innovation and the creation of value for society.
We'll be at the Innovation Fair, taking place all day in the Rectory atrium, to show you everything that our Elven collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) 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 will also be represented at the Innovation Fair, Spin-offs and other companies in the University's ecosystem.
Don't miss the chance to talk to us! We'll be here until 6pm!
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in another seminar on “Technology and Information in Agriculture - Smart Farm Virtual”, promoted by the National Association of the Plant Protection Industry (ANIPLA), which took place this time in the Algarve, at the Algarve Regional Directorate for Agriculture and Fisheries (DRAP Algarve), on the afternoon of November 7th. At the seminar it was possible to discuss some of the biggest challenges currently facing the agricultural sector, as well as explore some of the most advanced tools that allow professionals to adopt more sustainable and planet-friendly practices.
Pedro Fevereiro, InPP's executive director, took part in the panel “Tools for more sustainable production systems”, in which he demonstrated some of the solutions that already exist, such as new formulations, new biopesticides and new genomic techniques, and which are being created in response to the sector's production needs and the constraints imposed by the requirements of the European Green Deal.
InPP's CEO was also a speaker at the “Technology and Information in Agriculture” round table, which focused on the current requirements of the European Green Deal and the challenges it poses for the day-to-day work of professionals, as well as the revision of the Sustainable Use Regulation, and in which Gabriela Cruz, President of the Portuguese Association for Soil Conservation Mobilization (APOSOLO), Sandra Germano, a technician from DRAP Algarve, and João Bento Inácio, from the company JBI Group, He was representing the region's farmers. The round table was moderated by João Cardoso, Executive Director of ANIPLA.
The round table ended with a unanimous conclusion: we need to invest in research and the development of new tools to keep up with the European Union's train, which in turn has to make it possible to approve new solutions, such as new plant protection products and biopesticides, so as not to leave farmers without alternatives to the problems that no longer have a solution. Before banning, the European Union must guarantee alternatives and regulate the approval of these new solutions.
Topics such as the importance of biotechnology in adapting plants to the challenges of climate change, the need to make digital and precision agriculture accessible, and how conservation agriculture protects the soil and promotes biodiversity were also debated at the event, which was organized as part of the Smart Farm Hub project, in which InPP is a partner.
This is yet another seminar, organized as part of the Smart Farm Virtual Roadshow and promoted by ANIPLA, which is dedicated to raising awareness among professionals in the agricultural sector and the general public of the best practices for the sector that contribute most to the sustainability of the planet and can really make a difference in their day-to-day production. The roadshow will continue to tour various cities across the country to showcase the platform Smart Farm Virtual, This is the digital extension of ANIPLA's Smart Farm, located at Companhia das Lezírias, which you can visit to learn more about sustainable agricultural practices.
Special thanks to ANIPLA for the initiative! It was an excellent opportunity to talk and share with curious, aspiring and professional farmers about the main challenges facing the sector, as well as the tools available for an (even more) sustainable agricultural practice.
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