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.
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.
Each year, crop diseases cause devastating losses in agricultural production, threatening food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. In the heart of Alentejo, an innovative project is harnessing the power of genomics to help combat these invisible threats. The AlViGen Project, with the participation of InnovPlantProtect researchers Rute Rego and João Bilro, is paving the way for a new era of crop surveillance and protection.
The Problem and the Solution
“Yellow rust in wheat and olive quick decline syndrome are real scourges for farmers,” explains Rute Rego, a researcher at AlViGen. “These diseases can decimate entire harvests, leading to severe economic losses and compromising food quality.”
But AlViGen is not limited to observing the problem. The team is using cutting-edge technology to detect and identify the strains of fungi that cause these diseases, long before the symptoms become visible.
“We use traps to collect spores circulating in the air,” Rute continues. “These traps allow us to monitor the presence of fungi in real-time, which gives us an important advantage in preventing infections.”
But the magic happens in the laboratory, where the team extracts the DNA from the spores and performs advanced genomic analyses, using powerful DNA sequencing technology based on the metabarcoding method, carried out with cutting-edge technology like the portable Nanopore sequencer.
Rute Rego, a researcher at InnovPlantProtect, analyzes samples of the fungus causing olive quick decline syndrome as part of the AlViGen project.
Unraveling the Genetic Code of Fungi
To better explain what metabarcoding is and its advantage in detecting the presence of species or strains of fungi that cause diseases in crops, the researcher gives the example of a bag full of different types of grains - rice, beans, corn - being analyzed by the reader. “Metabarcoding is like placing a unique label (a ‘barcode’) on each type of grain. Then, you can mix all the grains in a single sample, and by reading the labels, you can identify the quantity of each type of grain present.'”
In the case of AlViGen, this technique allows for the analysis of multiple fungal species simultaneously (in multiple samples), each with its own genetic ‘barcode,’ and to ‘identify exactly which fungi are present, even in small quantities,'” the researcher explains.
And what is the practical impact of this method for monitoring and predicting disease? The AlViGen project researcher can identify, with high precision, the moment when the pathogenic agent begins to appear in the field, which makes it possible to alert farmers in real-time about the risk of disease. Producers can adopt preventative measures and apply the necessary products to avoid infection, contributing to a rapid and effective response in disease prevention.
The Timeline of Fungal Evolution
AlViGen's research is not limited to identifying the microorganisms harmful to crops; it also seeks to understand their evolution and diversity. João Bilro, another researcher on the project, is dedicated to studying the phylogeny of the Colletotrichum fungus, a microorganism responsible for causing olive anthracnose or blight, a disease that affects olive groves in Portugal. This disease mainly affects the olives, which compromises the quality of the olive oil.
“Phylogeny is crucial for understanding how the different strains of Colletotrichum Just as a family tree traces the history of a family, showing how members are related to each other, phylogenetic trees reveal the evolutionary relationships between the different strains of this fungus. Each branch of the tree represents an evolutionary lineage, and the nodes indicate common ancestors. By comparing the DNA sequences of these strains, we can reconstruct their evolutionary history, identifying which are genetically closer or more distant, and thus infer characteristics such as virulence or resistance to fungicides,” he reveals.
This knowledge allows researchers to identify patterns of dissemination and adaptation of the fungus, which is fundamental for developing more effective strategies to contain and/or reduce the damage this fungus causes to Portuguese olive groves.
“One of the challenges of our research is the great genetic diversity of the Colletotrichum,” admits João. “However, by uncovering their evolutionary secrets, we are paving the way for the development of more precise and targeted detection and control methods.”
Left photo: João Bilro, a bioinformatician at InnovPlantProtect, studying the phylogeny of the Colletotrichum fungus within the scope of the AlViGen project; Right photo: Rute Rego and João Bilro discuss ideas about the AlViGen project.
The Future of Agriculture Starts Here
The AlViGen Project aims to have a significant impact on the agricultural landscape, especially in Alentejo, a region with a strong agricultural tradition. By providing farmers with early detection tools and precise information about the microorganisms that cause crop diseases, the project intends to aid in decision-making, allowing farmers to protect their crops and reduce production losses.
“Our ultimate goal is to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to protect their crops sustainably,” states Rute. “We believe that genomic surveillance is a key tool for the future of crop protection.”
João Bilro agrees and adds, “Continuous research is fundamental to keep up with the evolution of harmful microorganisms and to develop new, consistently effective control strategies. In the future, we hope to expand the scope of AlViGen to include other microorganisms and crops, and to make genomic surveillance an accessible tool for all farmers.”
Science at the Service of Agriculture
The AlViGen Project, supported by the Promove Program of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with Banco BPI and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), is an inspiring example of how science and technology can be applied to solve real-world problems and transform agriculture. By unraveling the genetic secrets of crop microorganisms, Rute Rego and João Bilro are paving the way for a safer, more sustainable, and resilient agriculture.
The fight against crop diseases continues, but with AlViGen, farmers can finally see the enemy before it becomes visible.
On March 18th, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in the Ucanorte XXI Field Day, organized by our associate Fertiprado.
The morning kicked off with an auditorium session featuring InPP. António Saraiva, executive director of CoLAB, introduced InPP and the different innovative solutions and technologies that are being developed to protect crops. Ricardo Ramiro, director of the Data Management and Risk Analysis department, was another speaker who presented the services that can be of use to corn silage producers.
Samira Andrade, a researcher at Fertiprado, shared the promising results of her collaboration with the InPP team on seed coating.
Many thanks to Fertiprado for the invitation and the opportunity to strengthen our partnership!
Image credits: Fertiprado
Photos from left to right: António Saraiva, executive director of InPP; Ricardo Ramiro, director of the Data Management and Risk Analysis department and Samira Andrade, Fertiprado researcher collaborating with CoLAB.
InPP is the leader of a project that aims to develop sustainable and effective biopesticides to control two of the most important diseases of the olive grove, gafa and tuberculosis. This biopesticide, obtained from the plant biomass left over from the production of cannabis for medicinal purposes, will innovate and boost sustainability in this booming industry in Portugal. With an investment of 150,000 euros from the “la Caixa” Foundation, ValorCannBio promises to revolutionize the sector, positioning it as an important player in the circular economy and in reducing waste.
You have to travel to the heart of the Mediterranean, one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, to get to the olive grove, an ancient crop and economic engine, and understand the uphill battle it faces. Gafa and tuberculosis, two of the most important olive diseases, threaten the production of olive oil, one of Portugal's most valuable export products, especially in the Alentejo, where 75% of national production is concentrated.
Gafa, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum sp., can decimate up to 80% of production, representing losses of more than 50 million euros and threatening traditional Portuguese varieties such as Galega. Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi (Pss), compromises the quality of olive oil, and current copper-based control methods are ineffective and harmful to the environment.
Left photo: Olive grove, agricultural crop in focus of the ValorCannBio project; Center photo: Olive infected with the fungus Colletotrichum, The bacterium, which causes gafa, one of the most important diseases of the olive grove; Photo on the right: Olive tree infected with the bacterium Pseudomonas savastanoi, which causes tuberculosis, one of the most important diseases of the olive grove.
Cannabis: A New Hope for the Olive Grove
In a promising turnaround, the production of medical cannabis (with the scientific name Cannabis sativa) flourishes in Portugal, including in the Alentejo, with the country on its way to becoming one of the world's largest producers. However, the flower, rich in valuable compounds such as THC and CBD, is the only part of the plant that is used, while the remaining biomass legally has to be incinerated, a process with high economic and environmental costs.
What if this biomass, with its more than 500 chemical compounds, some of which have proven antibacterial and antifungal properties that are already known and others that have yet to be discovered, could be transformed into a solution to the challenges facing the olive grove? This is where the ValorCannBio: Valorization of medicinal cannabis by-products as a biopesticide for olive groves, a beacon of innovation and sustainability.
ValorCannBio: Science and Sustainability in Action
Led by InPP, in partnership with NOVA FCT's Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV requimte) and the companies GreenBePharma (GBP) and AGR Global, ValorCannBio is transforming surplus biomass from medical cannabis into effective and sustainable biopesticides against Gafa and Tuberculosis.
This is the first time that InPP has joined projects related to innovation and sustainability in the cannabis production industry and it wants to play a decisive role in the value chain. “Our team of researchers is developing sustainable biofungicides and biobactericides, using new extraction methods with environmentally friendly solvents. We are creating solutions that increase the efficiency and sustainability of this industry,” says Tatiana Gil, an InPP researcher involved in the project.
But the team of researchers isn't stopping there. “We are still unraveling the secrets of endophytic cannabis bacteria, microorganisms that live in symbiosis with the plant, as biological control agents,” he adds.
And how do you turn a cannabis leaf into a shield for the olive grove? Tatiana Gil explains the process step by step: “First, we test the effectiveness of the extracts in the laboratory, like detectives looking for clues. Then we formulate the biopesticide and assess its impact in a greenhouse, in a controlled environment. Finally, we take the solution to the field for the final test.”.
Tatiana Gil, InnovPlantProtect researcher, analyzes samples of cannabis leaf extracts as part of the ValorCannBio project.
An Impact that extends across the Territory
Cristina Azevedo, InPP researcher and project leader, anticipates the impact of ValorCannBio: “All of these impacts will be felt in the municipality of Elvas, where the project will take place, but it is expected that they will extend to the entire olive-growing region from Trás-os-Montes to the Algarve, where production losses due to gafa and tuberculosis are increasing, and eventually to Mediterranean countries where these diseases are equally prevalent.”.
ValorCannBio not only aims to offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, but also opens up a new way of valorizing the remaining biomass of the cannabis plant that is not used for medicinal purposes, transforming it from a waste product into a valuable resource.
“We want to create a parallel and complementary industry to the production of medicinal cannabis, involving the production of biopesticides,” reveals Cristina Azevedo, “which will pave the way for other innovations,” she adds.
A Sustainable Future for the Olive Grove
The ValorCannBio project is an example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand, offering solutions to the challenges of modern agriculture. By harnessing the potential of medicinal cannabis, ValorCannBio is helping to build a greener, more prosperous future for olive groves and the planet.
With the support of the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with Banco BPI and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), ValorCannBio, which began in October 2024, promises to be a success story until November 2027.
By the end of spring, the National Vector Insect Monitoring System project team will be working on the Xylella fastidiosa (SNM_XylellaVt), funded by the PRR, challenges citizens to keep an eye on plant foams: by detecting foams on plants, recording the data in the app and filling in the online form, it helps them to create an up-to-date map of the temporal and spatial distribution of the appearance of the juvenile stage of 4 species of leafhoppers in Portugal, which, once adult, are responsible for carrying the quarantine bacterium Xylella fastidiosafrom one plant to another.
The presence of the bacteria has already been detected in Portugal Xylella fastidiosa in four species of leafhoppers in mainland Portugal, but little is known about the current temporal and spatial distribution of these insects in our country. With this in mind, the project team SNM_XylellaVt, challenges citizens to be on the lookout for foams, located mainly on the stems of plants, in their daily lives, on vacation in Portugal, or when walking in natural spaces, olive groves, vineyards, pastures, orchards or in the montado. Foams are signs of the presence of these insect species that are vectors for the transmission of the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa.
Left and center photos: Examples of foams found in plants; Right photo: foam leafhopper, an insect that transmits the bacteria. Xylella fastidiosa
“With the help of all citizens, we will be able to understand the population dynamics of insect vectors and their relationship with plants, which could help us plan measures to combat Xylella fastidiosa, preventing the spread of this bacterium. This is very relevant given that we don't have a direct curative treatment for this bacterium, which makes its control extremely difficult,” explains Ilaria Marengo, a partner in the SNM_XylellaVt project and researcher at InPP. “Destroying infected plants and controlling insect vectors are currently the main measures to prevent the spread of the bacterium,” she adds.
Everyone can contribute to the “Help us save your plants!” campaign that is currently underway: all you have to do is, when you spot the leafhopper foams, take photos of the foams, located on the stems of the plants, and of the plant where you found them, record the data in the ODK Collect 2024 application available for your cell phone (see image below), record the date and geographical location - if possible with GPS coordinates - or alternatively, submit this data using a online form on the project platform. Once you have submitted your data, you will be able to view it on the available map aqui.
Steps on how to install and use the ODK Collect 2024 application on your cell phone or tablet. To install, go to the guide on the DGAV website here.
The “Help us save your plants!” campaign is being developed as part of the SNM_XylellaVt project, which is currently underway. SNM_XylellaVt, led by the Centro Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR CENTRO), and in which InPP is a partner, aims to contain the disease to the areas identified so far and to stop it spreading to the rest of Portugal. To this end, it is creating a network for monitoring the X. fastidiosa and its vector insect(s), in particular the foam leafhoppers, with the scientific name Philaenus spumarius, Philaenus tesselatus, Neophilaenus lineatus e Cicadella viridis, This will enable the development of new tools, such as risk forecasting models that will allow the National Agricultural Warning Service (SNAA) to warn in real time about the economic attack levels (NEA) for these insects, and prevent the spread of infection to crops that are relevant to national agriculture.
In 2019, the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was first detected in Portugal, in the metropolitan area of Porto, and has since been detected in other areas of mainland Portugal. This bacterium attacks a wide range of plants, posing a risk to agricultural and forestry crops of significant economic importance.
For more information on the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa access the website of the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) here.
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