aniversário – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

InPP joins BioLivingLABS project - Bioeconomy at the service of the sustainability of inland territories

September 22, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) recently received approval for an application submitted to COMPETE2030-2024-6 - Collective Actions - Transfer of scientific and technological knowledge - BioLivingLABS - Bioeconomy at the service of the sustainability of inland territories, led by MORE CoLAB - Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação, Associação, in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB) and AQUAVALOR.

BioLivingLABS aims to promote the economic valorization of research and development (R&D) results obtained by various institutions in the North, Center and Alentejo. To this end, it will create an experimental demonstration network, the so-called Living Labs, The project will be held in the innovation hubs of Mirandela, Douro, Covilhã and Elvas. In addition, demonstration actions, workshops, an inland innovation catalog and training on intellectual property protection will be developed with the aim of encouraging the incorporation of innovative solutions in the business sectors of these regions.

Scheduled to begin in October and lasting 24 months, the project has a total eligible investment of over 740,000 euros, financed by COMPETE2030 - Thematic Program for Innovation and Digital Transition. For InPP, this project is a strategic opportunity to strengthen its mission as a center for technology development and transfer, boosting the practical application of scientific knowledge to promote sustainable development.

This initiative confirms InPP's commitment to open and sustainable innovation, integrating science, technology and regional development to respond to the challenges and potential of the interior of the country.

InPP took part in an Open Day dedicated to the cereals of Baixo Mondego

September 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

On September 18, the executive director of InnovPlantProtect (InPP), António Saraiva, the director of the New Biopesticides Department, Cristina Azevedo, and researcher Luís Grilo attended the Open Day “The Cereals of Baixo Mondego”, promoted by the Centro Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Centro), at the Bico da Barca Experimental Unit in Montemor-o-Velho.

The event highlighted the latest innovations from the Coimbra Innovation Hub, from new technologies applied to maize and rice, to fertilization strategies, protection and the use of biostimulants on these key crops in the Baixo Mondego region.

Our team also monitored trials with biofungicides, including the product I21, developed with our collaborative laboratory to combat pyriculariosis in two rice varieties, which is being patented.

In an interview with Voice of the Countryside, Cristina Azevedo shared the work we have been doing in the area of biosolutions.

(Re)watch the interview here.

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect and Voz do Campo magazine

Maize in Portugal: phytosanitary challenges and new emerging threats

August 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

Maize continues to be the Portugal's most important arable crop, The sector has a significant impact on food safety and the national agri-food industry. Involving thousands of producers and generating tens of millions of euros a year, the sector is currently facing increasingly complex phytosanitary challenges.

Among already known pests and emerging diseases, there are risks ranging from cartridge caterpillar until Maize Rugose Dwarfism Virus (MRDV), The presence of this virus is increasing in Portugal. This virus, transmitted by the corn leafhopper, can seriously compromise production and is found in the climate change increasingly favorable conditions for its spread.

However, it's not just MRDV that's worrying. There are new threats that require vigilance, such as the coleopter Diabrotica virgifera or the MDMV virus (Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus), already detected in neighboring countries, and also toxic weeds, such as the winter fig (Datura stramonium), which in addition to impacting productivity pose public health risks.

Faced with this reality, the answer is integrated and sustainable strategies, matching:

crop rotation and good agricultural practices;
careful use of insecticides to avoid resistance and environmental impacts;
resistant or tolerant varieties, where available;
research and technological innovation, including new digital tools for early detection.

As the InnovPlantProtect researcher points out, Nuno Faria, in the article entitled “The main emerging pests and diseases of the maize crop in Portugal”, available in the August edition of Voz do Campo magazine: “The phytosanitary panorama of maize in Portugal requires continuous vigilance, investment in research and the application of integrated and sustainable strategies capable of responding to an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable reality.”

To find out more about the main current risks and mitigation measures, read the full article published in the August issue of Voz do Campo magazine (pages 88-89), available on newsstands and online.

EVENTS

InPP took part in a meeting on the future of Rocha pear production in Cadaval

March 16, 2024
Blog
Ines Ferreira

What will be the future of Rocha pear production? This was the motto for the 10th Rocha in Bloom Meeting, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in this project, which brought together technicians, researchers and companies in the March 15th, no Cadaval, to discuss and debate the problem of stenphylosis and other diseases in the Rocha pear tree.

Cristina Azevedo, director of InPP's New Biopesticides department, was one of the speakers on the panel on “Plant Health: Bacterial Fire” with a presentation entitled “A Control Solution”. The panel was moderated by the executive director of the collaborative laboratory, Pedro Fevereiro.

Image credits: ©️ APAS

The panel on “Plant Health: Stenphyliosis and other enemies” featured Ricardo Ramiro, director of InPP's Data Management and Risk Analysis department, with a presentation entitled “A Roselinea and the soil microbiome”.

Image credits: ©️ APAS

In addition to the problem of plant health, the issues of irrigation water and other production management technologies were also addressed.

The opening session was attended by the Chairman of the Board of the Sobrena Agricultural Producers' Association, Rui Soares, and the Mayor of Cadaval, José Bernardo Nunes.

The closing session was attended by the President of the Portuguese Farmers' Confederation, Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, and the President of the General Assembly of the Sobrena Agricultural Producers' Association, Manuel Chaveiro Soares.

The initiative was organized by the Sobrena Agricultural Producers Association (APAS), in collaboration with Cadaval Town Hall.

Find out more about the meeting here.

InPP took part in a session on soils and their management

March 15, 2024
Blog
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present last Tuesday, March 12, at the field session “Soil microbiology and its agronomic relevance”, promoted by the Association of Agroforestry Producers of the Sor Region (Aflosor), in collaboration with the Mediterranean Forest Union (UNAC), which took place at Herdade Margem do Sol Posto, located in Foros do Mocho, Montargil.

Soil microbiology, the fundamental role of mushrooms in forest conservation, the impact of extensive livestock farming on soil biodiversity and fertility and its agronomic relevance were some of the topics covered.

Pedro Fevereiro, executive director of InPP, Nuno Faria and João Colaço, researchers from the collaborative laboratory, took part in this session, which was accompanied by experts, and in which they had the opportunity to examine the soil in the field and take part in a debate where they exchanged experiences and knowledge.

Thanks to Aflosor and UNAC for the excellent exchange of ideas that each participant brought to the table!

InPP took part in the mid-term meeting of the Vertical Algae project in Aveiro

March 14, 2024
Blog
Ines Ferreira

(Being updated)

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in the second face-to-face meeting of the project Vertical Algae, The event, which took place this Wednesday, March 13, at the University of Aveiro, and of which the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) is a part.

The meeting, organized by the University of Aveiro, the Portuguese Association of Algae Producers (PROALGA) and GreenCoLab, brought together more than 140 people, representing the 38 partner entities involved in Algae Vertical, with the aim of taking stock of the work carried out by the seven sub-projects and presenting the results obtained so far and the next steps to be taken to achieve the proposed objectives.

The first part of the meeting included an open session that welcomed renowned dignitaries and industry leaders. Among the guests were Miguel Marques, chairman of Inovamar's Board of Directors, João Navalho, chairman of Necton's Board of Directors, José Ribau Esteves, mayor of Aveiro, and Eduardo Anselmo Castro, vice-president of the Centro Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDRC). This was followed, in an open format to the community, by a presentation of the latest developments, results and the way forward by the respective representatives of each of the seven sub-projects covering the various industrial sectors.

The director of InPP's New Biopesticides department, Cristina Azevedo, presented the 30 algae biomasses tested as part of subproject 6 linked to agriculture, led by our CoLAB in partnership with GreenCoLab, with the aim of understanding their potential as biopesticides and biostimulants.

Last year's inaugural meeting set ambitious goals for the project, aiming to create products, processes and services using blue biotechnology by December 31, 2025.

The meeting allowed for an exchange of knowledge and ideas, with the unique insights that each participant brought to the table fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation.

The partners will continue their journey through the incredible world of algae with great motivation!

You can (re)watch the recording of the meeting on the project's YouTube channel here.

The Algae Vertical, led by Necton, is part of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact and is driven by Inovamar. It is funded by the European NextGenerationEU, through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).