News & Events

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NEWS

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

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.

EVENTS

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) celebrates its 6th anniversary this Friday. January 24th, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., at the headquarters located at National Plant Breeding StationINIAV center in Elvas.

The commemorative date will bring together, in addition to InPP members, political decision-makers, representatives of other CoLABs in the agri-food sector, producer associations and farmers, with the aim of marking a new phase for InPP, which will be guided by the growth, expansion and consolidation of the brand, as well as the development of new technologies, products and services with a strong technological and innovation component, which make a difference in meeting the various challenges of agricultural crop protection.

The welcome session will start at 3pm and will feature a speech by António Saraiva, InPP's executive director, who took office in December 2024. At 3:10 p.m., the session “What innovation is produced at InPP?” will take place, in which our team will present the work and scientific-technological innovation that has been developed in the various areas of activity of the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB), namely in the areas of New Biopesticides, Protection of Specific Crops, Formulations and Process Development, Data Management and Risk Analysis, and Monitoring and Diagnosis.

On the day of the celebrations, the closing session will be attended by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes.

Also present to mark the date will be the Secretary of State for Agriculture, João Moura, the Vice-President of CCDR-Alentejo, Roberto Grilo, and the Mayor of Elvas, José Rondão Almeida.

You can register for the ceremony by until 5pm on January 23rd, through sending an email to inpp@iplantprotect.pt.

Mark your calendar and join us on this commemorative date! We'd be delighted to welcome you!

PROGRAM:

Reception of participants | 14h30

Welcome Session | 15h00

  • António Saraiva | Executive Director of InPP

Session “What innovation is produced at InPP?” | 15h10

  • Cristina Azevedo | Director of the New Biopesticides Department
  • Sandra Correia | Director of the Department for the Protection of Specific Crops
  • David Learmonth | Director of the Formulations and Process Development Department
  • Ricardo Ramiro | Director of the Data Management and Risk Analysis Department
  • iLaria Marengo | Director of the Monitoring and Diagnosis Department

Closing Session | 15h40

  • José Manuel Fernandes | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

Tour of the facilities | 15h50

Beberete | 16h00

For us, the year just ended was a great journey, and we tried to make the best of it.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been with us throughout 2024!

We're ready and raring to go for this new year full of challenges!

In 2025 we will continue to work to grow, innovate and be better and better.

We want to continue to count on our members, partners and clients.

Keep following us on our journey to protect crops!

As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our deep gratitude to all InnovPlantProtect's associates, partners and clients for the partnership and trust they have placed in us this year.

Together, we are succeeding in transforming the crop protection sector, fighting to combat pests and plant diseases in a smarter and more innovative way.

In 2025, we will continue to work to offer the best laboratory and digital solutions to all our current and future customers.

May next year's challenges be transformed into opportunities for growth and consolidation and may the new year bring many new journeys, achievements, discoveries and conquests.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2025!

Thank you for trusting in our science and technology to transform the future of crop protection.

From the InnovPlantProtect Team