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.
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.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is pleased to announce the publication of an international patent application (PCT) for a strain of Bacillus velezensis with application as a plant biostimulant. This innovation represents a significant milestone in our research, with a direct impact on sustainable agriculture and crop resilience in the face of climate and environmental challenges.
A natural and effective solution
The biostimulant developed by our team has been carefully studied and tested on different vegetable crops, such as tomatoes and lettuce, and on cereals, such as rice. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of this technology:
Greater development in the early stages of crops, This promotes more vigorous and healthy starts.
Increased productivity, This is evidenced by greater fresh biomass in lettuce and greater fruit production in tomatoes.
Proven molecular responses, with analyses confirming the activation of genes associated with plant responses to different types of abiotic stress.
These results reinforce the effectiveness of the Bacillus velezensis as a natural biostimulation tool, capable of boosting crop performance and contributing to more sustainable agriculture.
From the lab to the field
This patent is another step in InPP's commitment to developing innovative, sustainable biotechnological solutions with industrial applicability. The aim is clear: to support farmers and companies in the sector in meeting the challenges of crop productivity, quality and resilience, in an era when agriculture needs sustainable, high-impact responses.
We are looking for strategic partnerships
We are currently looking for new partnerships with companies and entities in the agricultural sector to take this technology from the laboratory to the field. We believe that collaboration is the key to turning scientific innovation into practical solutions that benefit the entire agricultural value chain.
If you're interested in learning more about this technology or exploring opportunities for collaboration, talk to us. Together we can drive a more productive, resilient and sustainable agriculture.
Innovate together. Protect better.
Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira (Photos from left to right: Sandra Caeiro and Rui Figueiras, researchers from the Specific Crop Protection Department and Inês Mexia, researcher from the Formulations and Process Development Department.
With the theme “Technologies and Innovations in Potato Production”, the information session is organized by Porbatata - Associação da Batata de Portugal, in collaboration with InnovPlantProtect (InPP), and will take place on October 30 at the INIAV Auditorium in Elvas.
The aim of the event will be to explore the themes of biotechnological breeding and pest and disease monitoring. The program will feature technical presentations by various members of the InPP team, namely Pedro Fevereiro, CoLAB's executive director, and researcher Cláudia Rato Silva, who will talk about Biotechnological Breeding and Pest and Disease Resistance. Department directors Ilaria Marengo and Ricardo Ramiro will also take part in the initiative and talk about Pest and Disease Monitoring and Control.
This will be a unique opportunity for farmers, sector specialists and industry professionals to learn about and discuss the latest trends and innovations in industrial potato production.
See the full program in the image below. Registration for the event is free and can be done through the following registration link available here.
The initiative is co-financed by the PDR2020 - Mainland Rural Development Program.
The ForestWISE Collaborative Laboratory (CoLAB) marked its sixth anniversary with an Open Day last Friday, September 27, which brought together the main players in the field. players in the fields of forestry and fire, including other CoLABs, companies, industries, universities, public bodies, associations and interface centers, among other strategic partners.
The initiative, which took place at the ForestWISE CoLAB headquarters on the campus of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in Vila Real, aimed to showcase the best of what is being done in the fields of forestry and fire in Portugal, through a display of the main products and services developed by this CoLAB over the last six years, whose main objective is to promote innovation, sustainability and knowledge transfer in the forestry sector.
At various themed stations distributed along an interactive circuit, participants were able to follow live demonstrations carried out by the Forest and Fire CoLAB team. Valuing and digitizing the forest, fire defence strategies, bioeconomy and participatory processes for integrated forest and fire management were some of the topics covered in this showcase of products and services, as well as projects coordinated by CoLAB.
The celebration was joined by the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, and the President of the Recovering Portugal Mission Structure, Fernando Alfaiate.
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