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.
InPP has the opportunity to have a stand, located at Terra Verde's stand, which aims to publicize the collaborative laboratory and the work that has been carried out here, and which was visited by José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Council of Ministers. Government Regional of the Azores.
At the invitation of Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Government of the Azores and Terra Verde, the executive director of InPP, Pedro Fevereiro, is one of the speakers at the round table on “Agri-environment and climate change”, with a speech entitled “The InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Laboratory and Innovation in Crop Protection in the Face of Climate Change and the ‘Green Deal’”, scheduled for today, June 19, at 2pm.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) will take part in the Azores Agricultural Fair 2022, The event will take place from June 17 to 19 on the island of São Miguel, at the Santana Fairground.
At the invitation of Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Government of the Azores and Terra Verde - Association of Agricultural Producers of the Azores, Pedro Fevereiro, InPP's executive director, is one of the speakers at the round table on “Agri-environment and climate change”, with a speech entitled “The InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Laboratory and Innovation in Crop Protection in the Face of Climate Change and the ‘Green Deal’”, scheduled for June 19 (Sunday) at 2pm.
As part of this trip to the Azores archipelago, a cooperation protocol will be signed with the Green Earth.
CoLAB InPP and FeedInov share a stand at FNA 22, from June 4 to 12, at CNEMA in Santarém.
(Being updated)
Collaborative laboratories (CoLAB) InnovPlantProtect (InPP) and FeedInov participated in the 2022 edition of the National Agriculture Fair (FNA 22), on the theme Innovation & Technology, which took place between June 4 and 12, at the National Center for Agricultural Exhibitions and Markets - Centro Nacional de Exposições e Mercados Agrícolas - in Lisbon. CNEMA, in Santarém. The two CoLABs welcomed visitors at stand no. 6, at Ship B, to showcase their activities, ongoing projects and the concrete solutions they have to offer the market and the agricultural and farming sector.
On Monday, June 6, at 10 a.m., the executive director of InPP, Pedro February, was one of the guest speakers at the session “Biotechnological Innovation at the Service of Agriculture”, organized by P-BIO and CAP, as part of the Farming Talks and the BIOMEET Sessions 2022.
Part of InPP's team of 33 researchers was on site throughout the nine days of the fair to demonstrate the various features of the Elvas CoLAB to visitors. It was possible to see fungi and bacteria in Petri dishes through a microscopic magnifying glass and learn more about biological control agents, as well as produce gellan gum “balls” with their bare hands - small capsules that are used to apply biopesticides to infected crops.
Other topics and services highlighted were microbiome analysis, the development of risk models, the meteorological calculator developed at InPP, molecular identification and diagnosis services, the application of IoT (Internet of Things) technology to plantations, the monitoring and diagnosis of the green leafhopper in the vineyard, GIS-based decision support systems, among many others.
InPP COMPETENCIES:
Development of Biological Control Agents
Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
Plant Biotechnology
Genomics & Metagenomics
Bioinformatics
Gestão de Dados & Metadados
Inteligência Artificial
Internet das Coisas
Micro-Nanotecnologias
PRODUTOS & SERVIÇOS fornecidos pelo InPP:
Diagnóstico de doença (identificação molecular do agente patogénico e isolamento)
Isolamento e identificação de microrganismos do solo
Confirmação do agente patogénico (testes de patogenicidade em planta)
Teste de agente/s de controlo biológico da doença in vitro e in vivo
Testes de bioestimulantes in vitro e in planta
Análise de microbioma de solo e de planta
Deteção e eliminação de viroides
Estabelecimento e progagação de plantas in vitro
Desenvolvimento de formulações
Genómica comparativa para identificação de fatores de virulência
Design e desenvolvimento de sistemas de suporte à decisão baseados em SIG
Preparação, aplicação e formação de/ em apps móveis para recolha de dados de campo
Conceção e implementação de sistemas de gestão de dados centralizados baseados em bases de dados espaciais
Conceção e desenvolvimento de ferramentas Web para acesso a, manipulação e visualização de dados
Recolha de dados de campo e conceção de estratégias de amostragem para diagnóstico e monitorização de pragas e doenças
Desenvolvimento e implementação de modelos de previsão do risco de pragas e doenças
Desenvolvimento de aplicações para a vizualização do risco de pragas e doenças
Análises bioinformáticas de big data para a identificação de agentes de controlo biológico/ bioestimulantes
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