engenharia genética – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

InPP joins BioLivingLABS project - Bioeconomy at the service of the sustainability of inland territories

September 22, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

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.

InPP took part in an Open Day dedicated to the cereals of Baixo Mondego

September 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

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.

(Re)watch the interview here.

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect and Voz do Campo magazine

Maize in Portugal: phytosanitary challenges and new emerging threats

August 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

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.

EVENTS

Integrated management of pear diseases: InPP organizes workshop

December 5, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

A two-day meeting in Elvas brings together partners from DIMAP, the only Portuguese project approved under SmartAgriHubs' PREPARE line. Objective: to propose a digital ecosystem for integrated disease management in pear orchards.

O workshop of the project “DIMAP: A digital ecosystem for integrated disease management in pear orchards”, led by InnovPlantProtect (InPP), took place on December 2nd and 3rd at the São Mateus Auditorium in Elvas.

Two days of intense brainstorming included talks by the different consortium partners, including: the presentation of reports on the three main pear diseases, presentations on the reality faced by producers and discussions on the tools available to better detect, predict and control the diseases identified.

In addition to the review presented by the InPP on biological and agronomic information on pear diseases caused by pathogens Erwinia amylovora (bacterial fire), Stemphylium vesicarium (stenphylosis) and Rosellinia necatrix (root rot), the participants had the opportunity to reflect on the know-how and experience of the Higher Institute of Agronomy, from Sobrena Agricultural Producers Association, from National Horticultural Operational and Technological Center, from Rocha Center and the company Blackbird.

The lectures at the technology forum were given by the InPP, the Smart Farm CoLAB and companies Biome Makers e TerraPro. The final discussion served to define the project's next steps, namely the identification of technologies that will be tested at DIMAP on a preliminary basis, with a view to being included in a future project to create a decision support system.

DIMAP was the only Portuguese project approved under the PREPARE line of the SmartAgriHubs, The consortium is a network of organizations that work together to promote the digitalization of the agri-food sector and interaction between different players in this industry. The consortium also includes National Association of Rocha Pear Producers, a National Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Producers' Organizations and Elvas School of Agriculture.

The São Mateus Auditorium was kindly provided by Elvas City Council.

The “Word to the chestnut trees” project is now online

November 25, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect has launched a website dedicated to the project “The word to the chestnut trees: educating them to know, protect and monitor them using IoT technology”. Meet the team and see all the information, background, details, and the various materials produced and now made publicly available.

As part of Science and Technology Week 2021, which runs until next Sunday, November 28th, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is launching the website for the project “The word to the chestnut trees: educating to know, protect and monitor them through IoT technology”, co-financed by the European Commission. Environmental Fund and led by InPP in collaboration with Sabugal Town Hall (CMS).

The project consists of applying an experimental and innovative environmental education program, aimed at chestnut producers, CMS technicians and 12th grade students from the Sabugal School Group, and based on “Internet of Things” (IoT) technology.

In this context, InPP and CMS have installed two dozen TreeTalker sensors in chestnut trees in the parishes of Fóios and Soito, which will allow the trees to communicate their state of health, making it possible to remotely monitor physiological parameters such as water consumption, biomass growth, trunk humidity, absorbed solar radiation and canopy reflectance.

Find out more about the project “The word to the chestnut growers...”, sensor installation and educational activities. Discover all the resources already available online.

Here's the InnovPlantProtect sustainability team

November 25, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect's (InPP) new sustainability team, named InPP Greeners, marks the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) and the Science and Technology Week 2021 in Portugal by opening a Twitter account.

The aim is to share knowledge and good practices that lead to the creation of more sustainable laboratories and institutions, as well as promoting the adoption of more sustainable behavior by all citizens.