News & Events

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NEWS

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.

More news about this new project soon.

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

EVENTS

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is promoting the “Plant Biotech Talks” on September 24, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the INIAV Auditorium in Elvas.

The lecture series aims to bring together internationally renowned experts in the fields of applied plant biotechnology and cereal crop biotechnology who will share developments in these areas, as well as the new genomic techniques that have been applied to rice production.

The guest speakers are Paul Christou, Professor and Director of the Applied Plant Biotechnology Laboratory at the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) at the University of Lleida, Teresa Capell, Professor and Director in the Department of Plant Production and Forestry Sciences at ICREA and Xin Huang, researcher in the Department of Agriculture and Forestry Engineering at ICREA.

The program is as follows:

10:00 - 11:00 | Paul Christou: Plant biotechnology, 1980-2024. From Round-up Ready soy to Genome Editing and beyond
11:00 - 12:00 | Teresa Capell: Communicating science through art and archaeology
12:00 - 13:00 | Xin Huang: Knocking our rice blast susceptibility genes through Genome Editing

Participation in the event is free and not subject to registration.

See the full program in the image below.

InPP was in Bragança yesterday for the MORE Colab - Mountains of Research Collaborative Laboratory Open Day, for a morning of exchanging experiences. Organized by MORE CoLAB, this initiative took place in the Auditorium of the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and aimed to highlight the impact of Collaborative Laboratories in enhancing knowledge and creating value in the communities and regions that host them.

The Open Day, which marked the fifth anniversary of CoLAB Bragantino, highlighted the impact of 15 million euros generated for the region with more than 45 projects, more than 40 human resources and 230 partners involved, more than 30 projects submitted in 2024 and 5 applications already approved under PT2030.

The initiative was attended at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança by government representatives, such as Hernâni Dias, Secretary of State for Local Administration and Spatial Planning, management entities, associates, public and private partners, as well as Collaborative Laboratories from the north to the south of the country.

The event was also an opportunity to learn about the projects and strategic partnerships being developed at MORE CoLAB.

Image credits: MORE Colab - Mountains of Research Collaborative Laboratory

The 1st Congress of the Insectera Mobilizing Agenda will take place on October 23rd at the Turismo de Portugal facilities in Estoril.

The 1st edition of the Congress will have the theme “Insects as a tool for sustainability” and aims to bring together experts and anyone interested to discuss the challenges, opportunities and potential of a new bioindustrial sector - insects as bioindustrial tools for sustainability.

The submission period for the congress is open until September 16 and registrations are now available.

You can find all the information on the “Abstract submission” tab on the congress website.

Mark your calendar now!

More information about the event here.