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.
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) took part in the second edition of the Summer Course in Plant Biotechnology, promoted by the Biotechnology Information Center (CiB), which took place between July 10 and 13 in the city of Coimbra, with the motto of innovation for sustainability.
InPP was represented by the executive director of Innovplantprotect, Pedro Fevereiro, and the director of the Specific Crop Protection department, Sandra Correia, who spoke at the theoretical session entitled “Cell culture for the production of metabolites”, which took place on the morning of July 11, and on July 12, the penultimate day of the event, the executive director spoke on the topic of “The green biotechnology sector in Portugal”.
The aim of this Summer Course, which also has the support of the Center for Functional Ecology (CEF) of the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra (UC), is to disseminate the different areas of plant biotechnology and the impact that biotechnological tools can have on mitigating the effects of climate change, as well as on food production, with a view to ensuring food security.
The National Monitoring Committee (CNA) of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) visited Alto Alentejo on July 4 to take stock of the implementation of the projects financed by the PRR in the region and to hear from the various final beneficiaries about their concerns, difficulties and suggestions.
The meeting at InnovPlantProtect (InPP), followed by a guided tour of the facilities, was aimed at monitoring the Interface Mission project, financed by the PRR, to guarantee basic public funding for the collaborative laboratory (CoLAB), as well as the projects “+Valorcer - Valorizamos a organização da produção de cereais” and “SNM_XylellaVt - Sistema Nacional de Monitorização de Insetos Vetores da Xylella fastidiosa“, led by InPP, and the Blue Bioeconomy Pact and InsectERA projects, in which CoLAB is a partner.
As well as this, it was also possible to present to the President of the CNA, Pedro Dominguinhos, the scientific research and innovation developed by the five departments over the four years of CoLAB's existence, to align strategies for future applications to the PRR, as well as to highlight the added value that the InPP is bringing in terms of establishing jobs in the region.
The delegation also had the chance to talk to some of our researchers about their careers, their academic and scientific career at various national and foreign universities, and to find out what led them to move to the city of Elvas.
In addition to this project, other applications that have already been submitted to the PRR, which are relevant to the region and are still awaiting approval, were also discussed, as well as the intention to submit others that are currently being drawn up.
InPP's executive director, Pedro Fevereiro, as well as the department directors, Cristina Azevedo, Sandra Correia, Ricardo Ramiro, iLaria Marengo and David Learmonth, welcomed the delegation.
On the 5th, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at Ciência 2023 - Meeting with Science and Technology in Portugal, which included the participation of Pedro Fevereiro, executive director of InPP, in the session “Innovation, sustainability and food safety: what is the positioning and roadmap of CoLABs in the Agro sector?”, which took place for the first time in the city of Aveiro.
The session brought together the collaborative laboratories (CoLABs) in the area of Agriculture - the InPP, the FeedInov CoLab, o Food4Sustainability, o SmartFarmCoLAB and CoLAB VINES&WINES -to discuss together the technological and strategic paths that the CoLABs have defined to respond to the needs and demands of the agricultural sector.
The session was structured with an international keynote speaker, followed by a round table moderated by a journalist, with the presence of the 5 CoLabs and the discussion open to the public. The expected results were the identification of innovations in progress and the understanding and possible adjustment of the strategic lines developed and to be developed, as well as greater efficiency in the interaction between the Colabs in the area of Agriculture.
The initiative, which brought together experts and researchers from different scientific fields, was attended by the Prime Minister, António Costa, and by the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Elvira Fortunato, the Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, Duarte Cordeiro, the Minister for the Economy and the Sea, António Costa Silva, and the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Maria do Céu Antunes. The meeting was closed by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The 2023 edition of Encontro Ciência took place between July 5 and 7 in Aveiro, at the Santiago da Prata University Campus. University of Aveiro, The event was dedicated to the theme “Science and the Ocean Beyond the Horizon” and focused on the ocean and water.
Encontro Ciência is the largest annual science and technology event in Portugal, promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in collaboration with the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture - Agencia Nacional de Cultura Científica e Tecnológica - Ciência Viva and, this year, also with the University of Aveiro. The initiative also has the institutional support of the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education and the Parliamentary Committee for Education, Science, Youth and Sport.
National R&D institutions, namely FCT R&D units, CoLABs, Associated Laboratories and State Laboratories, take an active part in the scientific program of Encontro Ciência every year, through their participation in the many parallel thematic sessions, demonstrations of R&D activities and posters by PhD students.
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