InPP took part in the kick-off meeting for the European PROSPER project, held on October 2 and 3 in Pavia, Italy. In attendance were the director of the Monitoring and Diagnostics Department, Ilaria Marengo, and the project manager, Bruno Orrico.
PROSPER's main objective is to transform European agriculture by valorizing highly resilient “orphan” legumes - forgotten crops, but full of potential to face the climate and food challenges of the future.
The project promotes sustainable, innovative practices adapted to different agricultural realities.
Over the two days, 27 partners from 13 countries met for presentations, in-depth discussions and strategic talks about the project's next steps.
We are excited about what comes next, certain that this journey will be more than a collaboration - it will be a true cooperation within an exceptional team.
Join us and keep up to date with all the news from the PROSPER Project!
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the project launch meeting BioLivingLABS - Bioeconomia ao Serviço da Sustentabilidade dos Territórios do Interior (Bioeconomy at the Service of the Sustainability of Inland Territories), which took place on October 1st at the School of Agriculture of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB).
Funded by COMPETE 2023, the BioLivingLABS project, led by MORE CoLAB - Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação, in partnership with the InPP, the IPCB, from AQUAVALOR and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB).
This project's mission is to add value to the low-density territories in the north, center and south of the country by demonstrating and economically boosting the work carried out by the partners - through the creation, demonstration and application of products, processes and services resulting from joint research.
Four living laboratories will be created (Living Labs) in the innovation hubs of Mirandela, Douro, Covilhã and Elvas, which they intend to promote:
the transfer of knowledge;
technology demonstration;
strategic roadmapping and
the protection of intellectual property.
BioLivingLABS strengthens the link between academia, business and society, driving innovation and sustainability.
Expected impact: Over the course of 24 months, and with Living Labs dedicated to sectors such as olive groves and olive oil, vineyards and wine, fruit and cereals, legumes, among others, the project will contribute to:
increase regional competitiveness;
promote sustainable practices and
responding to the environmental, social and economic challenges facing inland territories.
On September 25, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the National Exhibition of Blue Bioeconomy Pact Projects, held at the Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal, for the exhibition session of the Algae Vertical project, led by PhytoBloom by Necton.
InPP, leader of sub-project 6 - Agriculture, was represented by department director Cristina Azevedo and executive director António Saraiva, who presented some of the new algae-based biosolutions that our team and partners are developing.
There were more than 300 participants and 80 entities, including companies, research centers and political decision-makers. The Opening Conference was attended by the Chairman of Inovamar's General and Supervisory Board, José Soares dos Santos, and round tables were held on the future of the blue economy in Portugal.
Algae Vertical explores the biotechnological potential of algae in sectors as diverse as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and energy.
Find out more about the Algae Vertical Project here.
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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