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.
“It was motivating for the students to realize what they can do given what they study at school, and even how they can contribute to their own community.” This is the opinion of Telma Rafael, a teacher at D. Sancho II Secondary School, in Elvas, who today, May 24th, accompanied the pedipaper held at the Municipal Gardenof the city, for the 11th grade class of the Professional Technical Course in Agricultural Production.
The activity, co-organized by the collaborative laboratory InnovPlantProtect (InPP) and that educational institution, as part of the celebrations of the International Day for the Fascination of Plants, to which the Elvas City Council (CME) joined in, with the aim of allowing the students to explore, identify and marvel at the different trees in the Garden - the largest green space in the city - and their differentiating characteristics.
The 26 young people present, who had the opportunity to share experiences with half a dozen InPP researchers, “enjoyed the activity”, which they found “very interesting and interactive”, says Telma Rafael. Divided into teams, they had to travel along a predefined route, meeting a dozen different trees, answering questions about them and solving tasks.
As a result of this activity, InPP, Escola Secundária D. Sancho II, the association AIAR and CME intend to continue collaborating with a view to developing an identification system for the Garden's trees based on a QR code, which will allow mobile access to a “digital brochure” with information about the plants.
Open to the public, the meeting attracted around a dozen sketchers. “The participants were super friendly and super interested,” says Pedro Rosa, an InPP researcher, who took part in the initial tour to introduce the designers to the Garden's plants. Carla Moreira, InPP's project manager, highlights “the sharing of experiences, both by the researchers and the participants”.
The initiative also paved the way for future collaborations and greater interaction between AIAR and InPP. Together with D. Sancho II Secondary School and the CME, cooperation is already planned with a view to developing an identification system for the Garden's trees, based on a QR code, which will allow mobile access to a “digital brochure” with information about the plants.
Plant Fascination Day is an initiative of the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO), which takes place every two years on May 18th. It is coordinated at national level by the Portuguese Society of Plant Physiology and by the ITQB NOVA, and included events across the country.
Challenging and fun: that's how most of the students at the D. Sancho II Secondary School rated the pedipaper made in Elvas Municipal Garden on May 18th, in celebration of the International Day for the Fascination of Plants. Some running, others walking, more than 80 young people from three 10th grade classes took part in the tree identification game all morning, answering questions and solving tasks.
“It depends a lot on the enthusiasm of the kids,” observes Pedro Rosa, a researcher at the collaborative laboratory InnovPlantProtect (InPP), who considers that the pedipaper “went well”: “There was communication, [the students] were attentive; we had a very good connection.” “It was very positive for the students” understanding of the diversity that exists in the Garden, as well as their contact with the CoLab," said Carla Moreira, InPP's project manager.
The initiative, to which Elvas City Council (The event was organized by the InPP and the Secondary School of Agrupamento de Escolas n.º 3 de Elvas. The aim was to allow the youngsters, who are studying biodiversity this year, to explore, identify and marvel at the different trees in the garden - the largest green space in the city - and their differentiating characteristics. Another class, from the multimedia technical course, was on site to capture images of the event.
As a result of this activity, InPP, Escola Secundária D. Sancho II, the association AIAR and CME intend to continue collaborating with a view to developing an identification system for the Garden's trees based on a QR code, which will allow mobile access to a “digital brochure” with information about the plants.
Plant Fascination Day is an initiative of the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO), which takes place every two years on May 18th. It is coordinated at national level by the Portuguese Society of Plant Physiology and by the ITQB NOVA, and included events across the country.
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