News & Events

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NEWS

O InnovPlantProtect (InPP) promotes the seminar “Six years of innovation: The path of CoLABs for the future of the agricultural and agri-food sectors”, on the next day June 11thfrom 09h30 until 11h00, in center stage at Espaço InsectERA, located in the Central Cloisters of the National Center for Agricultural Exhibitions and Markets (CNEMA) in Santarém.

The seminar aims to present the practical results and real impact of six Collaborative Laboratories (CoLABs) in Portugal - InnovPlantProtect, Colab4Food, FeedInov, Food4Sustainability, MORE and SmartFarmCoLAB. These interface infrastructures are essential pillars of the National Innovation System (SNI) and play a growing and essential role in the dynamics of innovation for agriculture and agri-food.

The event will be attended by members of the teams and partners of each of the CoLABs, who will talk about their vision of the added value of these interface and innovation entities, from the point of view of those who collaborate directly with them.

The initiative, which is part of the National Agriculture Fair (FNA) 2025, which this year has the theme “Biosolutions” and will be the stage for exploring the innovations that are shaping the future of the sector, brings together different representatives of the innovation ecosystem to show the role of CoLABs in stimulating the transfer of knowledge and making innovation available to agriculture and agri-food in Portugal, creating value and attracting highly qualified human resources to the country.

See the full program in the image below.

The registration for the event is free, but mandatory due to the limited capacity of the space. Guarantee your presence by filling in the available form here.

We look forward to welcoming you for a morning of sharing and debate on the future of innovation in the agricultural and agri-food sectors!

Estamos em contagem decrescente para a Feira Nacional de Agricultura (FNA), uma das maiores feiras agrícolas do país!

É já de 7 a 15 de junho que o InPP vai estar na 61ª edição da Feira Nacional de Agricultura, que se realiza no CNEMA – Centro Nacional de Exposições, em Santarém.

O tema da edição deste ano é “Biosoluções”e pretende destacar a importância das soluções e tecnologias inovadoras no setor agroalimentar e na promoção de práticas mais sustentáveis e eficientes.

A FNA reúne agricultores, empresários e especialistas dos setores agroalimentar, pecuário e agrícola e é um excelente espaço para aumentar a nossa rede de contactos, trocar conhecimentos e apresentar as mais recentes tendências e soluções agrícolas que a nossa equipa tem desenvolvido.

Vai poder encontrar-nos no stand nº.18, à entrada do Espaço dos claustros, dedicado à Agenda InsectERA, entre as 10h e as 20h.

Venha visitar-nos. Esperamos por si!

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in the National Olive Growing Fair (FNO 25) in Campo Maior, from May 23 to 25, presenting its latest biological and digital innovations for crop protection, including projects focused on biopesticides for olive diseases and early detection of fungi that cause gafa, and monitoring insect vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which attacks olive groves. The Elvas CoLAB was present with its own stand to demonstrate its strengths and the impact of its research on agricultural sustainability, inviting producers, technicians and researchers to learn about its innovative bio-based and digital solutions and to actively participate in the discussion of the sector's challenges.

The collaborative laboratory (CoLAB) welcomed visitors at the stand no. 14, located at thematic area at the Campo Maior Municipal Garden, to showcase their activity, the ongoing projects that are developing solutions to the main olive diseases, the patents already submitted, the apps for agricultural management and the bio-based and digital products and services they have to offer the agricultural sector and the market. Throughout the three days of the fair, some of InPP's researchers were at the stand to demonstrate to visitors the various features of the Elvas CoLAB, which has been developing innovation that it hopes will contribute to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

InPP announced ValorCannBio project, which is processing biomass that is not used in the medical cannabis industry to develop effective and sustainable biopesticides against gafa and tuberculosis, The project will be carried out in the municipality of Elvas, which is responsible for decimating entire harvests, leading to severe economic losses and compromising food quality. The impact of this project will be felt in the municipality of Elvas, where the project is being developed, but it is expected that it will extend to the entire olive-growing region from Trás-os-Montes to the Algarve, where production losses are increasing due to these diseases. O AlViGen project was also one of the protagonists and is using cutting-edge technology to detecting and identifying the strains of fungi that cause gafa, long before the symptoms become visible. The project team has used traps to collect spores that circulate in the air to monitor the presence of fungi, which can give farmers an important advantage in preventing infections and protecting their crops, reducing production losses.

O SNM_XylellaVt project, The SNM_XylellaVt project, led by DRAPCENTRO and in which InPP actively participates, was also highlighted at FNO. SNM_XylellaVt is monitor the insect vectors of the bacteria Xyllela fastidiosa, in particular the foam leafhopper, the insect responsible for transmitting the bacterium, which attacks various agricultural and forestry crops, and in particular olive groves. The project team is developing new tools, such as risk prediction models which, in the presence of the bacterium, whether in plants or insect vectors, will allow the National Agricultural Warning Service (SNAA) to alert, in real time, about the economic attack levels (EAL) for these insects, thus allowing prevent infection of the main crops. As part of this project, the team has also developed an online platform where citizens can report the sighting of foams, which are signs of the presence of the insect vectors of X. fastidiosa, This will help to map its temporal and spatial distribution and to plan measures to combat this bacterium.

The FNO, organized jointly by the Campo Maior City Council and the Centre for the Study and Promotion of Olive Oil in the Alentejo (CEPAAL), is an event that aims to enhance national olive growing, and in particular Portuguese olive oil, boosting the local economy and bringing together professionals from the sector - producers, technicians, or researchers - from all over the country to discuss challenges and trends in the Portuguese olive and olive oil sector.

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect

EVENTS

For two days, the Lisbon Congress Center will host researchers, entrepreneurs and the general public for the annual Science 2020 meeting. At this event, ANI - Agência Nacional de Inovação (National Innovation Agency) will host six virtual sessions as part of the PERIN/Horizonte Europa network and Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB).

At the annual Science 2020 meeting, which is being held today and tomorrow at the Lisbon Congress Center, ANI-National Innovation Agency will be hosting 6 virtual sessions as part of the PERIN/Horizonte Europa network and Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB).

Horizon Europe, the European Union's next framework program for research and innovation, will be the theme for three sessions promoted by ANI, as a member of the PERIN network:

  • PERIN Session - Missions

On November 3, at 11:30 a.m., there will be a presentation of the missions that will be part of Horizon Europe, followed by a speech by the European Commission on the concept of mission. The session will also feature a round table of Portuguese experts participating in mission boards. Access the event here.

  • PERIN Session - Pillar II

Also on November 3, at 2pm, the structure of “Pillar II of Horizon Europe - Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness” will be presented, focusing on the opportunities and themes of each of its clusters. Access the event here.

  • PERIN Session - Pillar III

On November 4, at 11:30 a.m., the different areas of “Pillar III of Horizon Europe - Innovative Europe” will be presented: European Innovation Council, Eurostars 3 (focusing on the Portuguese presidency of Eureka), SME Support Networks and European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Access the event here.

Also November 3rd and 4th, the three sessions dedicated to Collaborative Labs, These presentations are also part of the program of the Science 2020 Meeting. Each presentation will be structured according to a pitch in which each CoLAB will showcase its activities and the technologies and services it provides. The interventions are divided into 6 thematic areas, according to the respective area of intervention: Digital and Information Systems; Climate, Space and Oceans; Health and Social Services; Materials, Circular Economy and Urban Sustainability; Energy and Sustainability; Biodiversity and Forestry; and Agri-food. See detailed information on the CoLAB sessions e watch the event here.

The importance and challenges of science, research and innovation in Portugal's recovery in times of pandemic set the tone for the Science 2020 Meeting. This event is particularly relevant as Portugal prepares to take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2021. Speakers and participants will discuss strategies for the country and Europe to be more resilient, digital, green, social and global in the current context. Over the course of two days, the program includes several thematic sessions in a wide range of scientific areas, promoting interaction between researchers, the business sector and the general public.

The Science Meeting is promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology in collaboration with Ciência Viva - National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture and the Parliamentary Commission for Education and Science, and has the institutional support of the Government through the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education. More information about the meeting will be released soon.

See Science 2020 Meeting Program and Program of Thematic Sessions.

InnovPlantProtect is hiring a researcher for its Department 2 - Protection of Specific Crops. See the requirements here.

Main responsibilities
This researcher reports directly to the Director of the Department of Protection of Specific Crops
of InnovPlantProtect and has the following responsibility:
- To identify pests and diseases in the field and in the laboratory
- Sample plant, pests and pathogen material from crop fields
- Interact with farmers and field researchers
- Support field, greenhouse and laboratory plant-pathogen interaction assays


Specific requirements
- Master degree in Phytopathology or related fields
- Experience in phytopathology and agronomic techniques is desirable
- Knowledge on molecular phytopathology and plant physiology
- Fluency in English, spoken and written


InnovPlantProtect is a private non-profit association

InnovPlantProtect aims to create innovation for the protection of crops, seeds and post-harvest
products, in particular through:
- Development of new technologies and knowledge, as well as the improvement of
previously developed technologies, to protect crops, seeds and post-harvest products, as
as well as their intellectual protection and availability;
- Development of applied scientific research to introduce the developed technologies in
the market, and to develop processes and products;
- Provide technical support to companies and entities, public or private, assisting them in
the introduction of biotechnological strategies, methods and processes, and in the
orientation and implementation of industrial research and development, directed towards
the protection of crops, seeds and post-harvest products;
- Collaboration with public or private institutions, national or foreign in their areas of
activity.


Workplace
The place of work will be the headquarters of InnovPlantProtect, at the INIAV Elvas pole, in the
former National Plant Breeding Station (Elvas, Portugal).


Salary and contract
A full-time contract will be offered, starting December 1st, 2020. The contract will last until
December, 31, 2022, being renewed annually, and with a trial period of 30 days. The contract
will be renewed past 2022 depending on further financial support.
All the activities to be developed will be subject to confidentiality clauses.
The gross value of the remuneration will be 1509,8€ (14 months - 21,152.6€/year) plus 4,77€ of
lunch subsidy per working day.

Financial Support
This contract is co-financed by the European Social Fund and Alentejo 2020, under the
Operation: Highly qualified employment in companies - Hiring Highly Qualified Human
Resources (PME or CoLAB). Project reference: ALT20-59-2018-49


To apply for this position, the following documents should be sent in a single PDF
document:

- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Motivation letter
- Honor statement that all data provided in the CV is true
(If the selected candidate does not hold a master's degree by a Portuguese Higher Education
Institution, its recognition by the Portuguese State must be delivered after signing the contract,
under the terms of the Portuguese Decree-Law No. 66/2018)


Where to send the application
To the care of the Chief Executive Officer of InnovPlantProtect Collaborative Lab, Professor
Pedro Fevereiro (inpp@iplantprotect.pt).


Deadlines
This call is open until November 6th 2020, with a decision expected by November 20th. The
selected candidate is expected to start on December 1st.


General rules of data protection (GDPR)
With the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of April 26, 2016, commonly known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
and in order to ensure a fair and transparent treatment of the holder of the data,
InnovPlantProtect informs that by applying for this position you are authorizing
InnovPlantProtect to (1) collect and process your personal data deemed necessary and relevant
to this recruitment process, (2) to disclose the results of the evaluation in accordance with the
legislation in force.