engenharia genética – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

InnovPlantProtect launches new website to mark 7 years of activity

January 24, 2026
Blog, Highlight, News, Latest
Ines Ferreira

O InnovPlantProtect (InPP), Collaborative Laboratory specializing in biological and digital solutions for crop protection, aligned with the emerging challenges of agriculture, will launch its new institutional website on January 24th, on a symbolic date marking 7 years working in the agricultural sector.

This launch is part of a phase of institutional evolution and consolidation InPP, reinforcing its strategy of proximity to the sector, clarity in the communication of its competencies and affirmation as a strategic partner for companies, producers, associations and public bodies.

An even clearer, more up-to-date and sector-oriented platform

With a renewed structure and a more intuitive browsing experience, the new website features:

an area of Services and Products completely reorganized, which facilitates access to specialized services, laboratory capabilities and biological and digital solutions developed by InPP, as well as to a updated catalog of services and biosolutions;
more complete institutional content that reinforces transparency, scientific rigor and CoLAB's mission;
a clearer presentation of scientific skills and research areas, highlighting the impact of the work carried out by InPP's multidisciplinary teams.

New image, same mission - but reinforced

The launch of the website is accompanied by the implementation of InnovPlantProtect's new visual identity, This reflects the maturity of CoLAB and its future ambitions.

The new image - accompanied by the slogan “Innovate together. Protect better.” - reflects InPP's ongoing commitment to:

Developing new generation biological and digital solutions;
Promoting safer, more innovative and more productive agriculture;
Strengthen collaboration and partnership with the agricultural sector and the innovation ecosystem.

A new phase for InPP

The digital and visual renovation is part of a broader strategy of maturity and consolidation, Through this initiative, InPP aims to strengthen its role as a scientific and technological partner for the agricultural sector in applied research and the development of crop protection solutions.

According to António Saraiva, InPP's executive director: “This new website isn't just a digital revamp - it's a reflection of the ambition we have for our future and how we want to communicate with the sector. We want every visitor to understand the purpose that drives us: to create innovative solutions that protect crops, boost productivity and contribute to more sustainable agricultural systems. InPP is entering a new phase, with a clearer, more accessible identity aligned with the real needs of agriculture and a renewed commitment to real impact on the ground.”

Available from January 24th

The new InnovPlantProtect website will be available from January 24th at: https://iplantprotect.pt/

2026 begins with new InnovPlantProtect features

January 16, 2026
Blog, Highlight, News, Latest
Ines Ferreira

The start of a new year also marks a new cycle for InnovPlantProtect. In 2026, InPP enters a phase of evolution and consolidation, with several new features that reinforce its position as a strategic partner for the intelligent transformation of agriculture.

Over the next few months, initiatives, content and tools will be presented that reflect the work carried out by our teams in the areas of applied research, biological solutions, specialized services and digital innovation.

The first step in this new phase will be presented in the next January 24th, InnovPlantProtect is celebrating the date 7 years in business at the service of the agricultural sector.

Until then, we continue to prepare a range of new products that reflect our mission to promote safer, more innovative and more productive agriculture.

Stay tuned. What's coming is just the beginning.

Sustainability that Generates Value: InPP debates the role of ESG in the future of the fruit and vegetable sector

December 3, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

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.

Image credits: Voz do Campo magazine

EVENTS

Huanglongbing disease could be mitigated with antioxidants and gibberellin

February 2, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Researchers have found evidence that Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, This is an immune-mediated disease, which can be mitigated with antioxidants and phytohormones such as gibberellin, lifting the veil on the mechanism that causes this disease. O article on this study was recently published in Nature Communications.

Huanglongbing disease, which affects citrus fruits and ornamental plants, is caused by the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter transmitted by the citrus psyllid, a biting-sucking insect vector that also causes considerable direct damage to plants. The African psyllid (Trioza erytreae), vector of the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter africanus, is listed as a quarantine pest in Europe and its presence in Portugal has been expanding. O citrus greening is considered the most serious disease for these plant species worldwide.

The team from the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida (USA) shows that the infection of orange trees (Citrus sinensis) by the bacterium Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus induces a chronic systemic immune response in the plant's phloem, mimicking chronic systemic inflammatory diseases in humans, which leads to the death of the cells that make up the phloem tissue.

The conclusion that this is an immune-mediated phytopathology “helps guide the battle against this infamous disease”, the authors state in the article. The researchers consider it likely that horticultural approaches that suppress the oxidative stress of infected plants could mitigate the damage, including the optimal use of plant growth hormones such as gibberellin and brassinosteroids, as well as treatments with antioxidants.

Feature image © UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center

InnovPlantProtect celebrates 3rd anniversary today

January 23, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Members of the Elvas CoLAB team tell the camera what brought them to the raia and the “Queen of the Border”, and what led them to accept the challenge of building the InPP.

Because I believe in a more sustainable future
Joana Castro

January 24, 2022. 3rd anniversary of the signing of the public deed setting up the InnovPlantProtect - Association collaborative laboratory. What a journey! Congratulations to the entire team, associates, members of the governing bodies and partners who have contributed and are contributing today to the birth and growth of this young CoLAB.

Because it represented a huge challenge for my return to Portugal
Cristina Azevedo

Why our lives depend on plants
iLaria Marengo

Completing the multilingual, multicultural and multidiverse team of 39 people that make up InPP today was one of the great achievements of the last year. Find out what brought us to Elvas and why we decided to stake our professional and personal lives on the challenge that is InnovPlantProtect. Watch the video on our YouTube channel.

To put into practice the knowledge I've acquired over more than 12 years abroad in the service of my country's scientific development.
Cláudia Rato da Silva

“Building a new institution is always a challenge and a risk. These three years have shown just that: the need to take risks and accept the challenge of overcoming difficulty after difficulty,” recognizes Pedro Fevereiro, executive director of “CoLAB de Elvas”. “The pillar that sustains InnovPlantProtect is people. And it is to all the people who have accepted the challenge of coming to build that the (over)experience and growth of InPP is due. It will continue to grow. Thank you for that.”

For the chance to settle in the country I chose to live in and live in a beautiful city like Elvas
Márcio Almeida

To rid crops of pests using artificial intelligence
Manisha Sirsat

The chance to do what I love
Tiago Amaro

To apply the knowledge acquired in the biopharmaceutical industry to the discovery of biopesticides
Miguel Carvalho

Project dedicated to the montado, co-financed by “la Caixa”, is now online

January 11, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

“AI applied to a prediction and early detection system for Phytophthora cinnamomi in dehesa ecosystems/ dehesa” is the name of the winning project of the 2020 edition of the Promove Program, which brings together InnovPlantProtect (InPP), the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), the Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX), a ACPA - Association of Alentejo Pig Breeders and the Aflosor - Agro-Forestry Association of the Ponte de Sor Region. Now you can find out more about this collaborative initiative, which has won a own page on the InPP website.

With three study areas, two in Portugal (the municipalities of Avis and Ourique) and one in Spain (Alcuescar), the overall aim is to apply monitoring and warning systems to large patches of forest, using digital robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on a large scale.

This project is funded under Promove - The Future of the Interior, a program of the la Caixa“ Foundation” launched in partnership with BPI and Foundation for Science and Technology, The aim is to support innovative initiatives in strategic areas for the development of Portugal's inland regions.