ferrugem-amarela – 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

Technologies and innovations in potato production to be debated this Wednesday in Elvas

October 28, 2024
Blog
Ines Ferreira

The information campaign on “Technologies and Innovations in Potato Production” takes place this Wednesday October 30th, at the INIAV Auditorium in Elvas. The event, organized by Porbatata, with the support of InnovPlantProtect (InPP), will be attended by several researchers from the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) who will present and discuss the latest technological innovations and solutions aimed at optimizing the productivity and sustainability of potato cultivation, as well as the presence of the company Ceres Imaging.

With innovative monitoring and control solutions Ceres AI will contribute an advanced vision of the future of potato production, helping the sector to face the challenges more efficiently.

The action aims to explore the themes of biotechnological breeding, resistance to and monitoring and control of pests and diseases. The program will feature presentations by Pedro Fevereiro, CoLAB's executive director, Cláudia Rato da Silva, researcher, and Ilaria Marengo and Ricardo Ramiro, department directors.

The initiative is aimed at professionals in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products and will be a unique opportunity to learn about the latest trends and challenges impacting the sector.

The initiative is co-financed by the PDR2020.

If you haven't registered yet, check out the full program and make sure you're there here.

We're counting on your presence!

InPP and AI4LeafHopper project featured in Vida Rural magazine

October 28, 2024
Blog
Ines Ferreira

In Vida Rural magazine, an article entitled “Revolutionizing agriculture with sustainable innovation and advanced technology” features interviews with InnovPlantProtect (InPP) researcher Nuno Faria, the director of the Pest and Disease Monitoring and Diagnosis department, iLaria Marengo, and the executive director of the collaborative laboratory, Pedro Fevereiro, and highlights the work carried out by CoLAB, as well as the AI4LeafHopper project.

“The focus of the project was to integrate advanced technology, such as drones and risk prediction models based on artificial intelligence, to monitor and prevent damage caused by the [green leafhopper] pest in vineyards in advance,” explains iLaria Marengo.

Regarding the results achieved in Portugal so far by AI4LeafHopper, the department director reveals: “We've already put the drone into flight and tested our forecasting model with this year's data.” The project began in April and has been divided into three phases. It is currently in the development phase, and in the final stage the aim is to present the developed solutions to the market, benefiting not only the participating producers, but potentially others in the Mediterranean region and beyond.

Read the full article in the file below.

The AI4Leafhopper project, led by InPP and in partnership with Reynolds Wine Growers and João Portugal Ramos, was one of the six winners of the 1st edition of the PULL applications of the ICAERUS Horizon Europe program, in the “Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Challenges” category.

Are you curious about this project? Find out all the details here.

INPP TOOK PART IN THE FIRST INSECTERA CONGRESS

October 24, 2024
INNOVPLANT_develop

News & Events