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NEWS

The Science that Grows from the Vine: How Biosolutions Can Protect the Wine of the Future

November 28, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project, Report
Ines Ferreira

In viticulture, every little decision has an impact: on the soil, on the health of the plants and on the quality of the grapes that form the basis of the wine that reaches our table. The future of viticulture may depend on a single biosolution. Or a hundred. In VINNY, an ambitious European project of which InPP is a part, researchers from ten countries are looking for bioactives capable of curbing vine diseases - and, at the same time, reducing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals. What's at stake is not just science: it's the sustainability of this industry.

The aim of the VINNY project is simple but transformative: develop and implement effective, sustainable solutions and adaptable to the needs of winegrowers in various European countries, creating environmentally friendly biopesticides and biofertilizers, and advanced nano-encapsulation technologies, to reduce dependence on conventional chemicals and promote a healthier ecosystem and a better environment and a circular viticulture.

And at the heart of this mission is an essential cog in the wheel: the daily work of the researchers who search for answers invisible to the human eye - as is the case with Tiago Amaro, a researcher at InPP.

Image credits: VINNY Project

Searching for the Guardians of the Vine

The road to these new biosolutions begins in the field, with the vine. The initial work of Tiago Amaro, started in September 2024 and focuses on identifying and isolating microorganisms naturally present in the vines themselves, in samples received from partners in Portugal, Spain, Austria and Denmark.

From grapes, sticks or woody fragments, small microscopic worlds arrive in the laboratory that may contain the natural weapons needed to fighting three major threats to the vineyard, with a direct impact on farm profitability:
- A gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) and blue mold (Penicillium expansum): Fungi that cause post-harvest diseases, In the case of wine grapes, this affects the quality of the wine and makes it completely impossible to sell table grapes.
- The vine tumors: Caused by bacteria Allorhizobium vitis, This disease affects the plant in the field, causing leaf fall and reduced grape production.

Tiago Amaro, InnovPlantProtect researcher, identifying and isolating bacteria as part of the VINNY project. Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira

After isolating the microorganisms, Tiago dedicated himself to creating libraries of bacteria. What is a ‘Bacteria Library’? In the context of the investigation, a bacteria library is an organized and catalogued collection of bacteria isolated from different sources. It allows scientists to test each strain of bacteria against specific pathogens, constituting a vast catalog of potential biological ‘superheroes’ for plant protection.

This rigorous screening, which has already led to the analysis of more than 190 bacteria of this library is the first line of defense. The team selects the best candidates with the potential to be used as biological control agents against the diseases under study.

The Power of European Collaboration

What if the solution to protecting Portuguese vineyards is hidden in a Danish grape? Or in a bacterium isolated in Spain? One of the most exciting aspects of the project is its truly collaborative dimension, where researchers from ten countries are working in parallel, sharing answers, challenges and microorganisms in search of effective biosolutions for the whole of Europe.

“All the solutions found will be shared, all the solutions will be tested by all the partners and it will be possible to build a ‘library of solutions’ against the various vine diseases“ emphasizes researcher Tiago Amaro.

The sharing of bacteria and extracts from different ecosystems (Portugal, Spain, Denmark and Austria) is crucial. An effective bacterium in Denmark could be the key to protecting Portuguese vineyards, and vice versa. This exchange of biological solutions, one of the innovative pillars of the project, makes it possible to exploit the microbial biodiversity beyond national borders. InPP has the fundamental role of testing, in grapes, the solutions discovered by our team as well as by other national and European partners.

This diversity of tests is a bet on the future: microorganisms that don't prove effective against vine diseases could be the solution for pathologies in other crops.

Left photo: Tiago Amaro, InPP researcher, observing a grapevine leaf, the target crop of the VINNY project, Right photo: Potted grapevine plants in the InPP greenhouse, ready to test the solutions found by the various VINNY partners. Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira

The Real Test: From the Lab to the Field

After selection in the laboratory, the next step - the formulation of the most promising bacteria - will be carried out in Portugal and Spain, at the University of Minho and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. But it is in the field-testing phase that the greatest challenge of plant protection science lies, because even brilliant results in the laboratory can fail in the field. Formulation is the process that turns a bacterium into a product - stable, applicable and compatible with the farmer's needs.

Tiago Amaro emphasizes necessary resilience:

Field Uncertainty: Often, promising solutions in the laboratory or greenhouse are not as effective when applied in the field, due to environmental variables (climate, soil, etc.).
The Time Factor: Diseases such as Allorhizobium vitis may take a long time to develop, or the infection may not be relevant in certain years, which makes it difficult to obtain robust conclusions.
The Agricultural Cycle: It is necessary to test the formulation in the field during three to five consecutive years, and recording all the variations observed. With only one harvest a year, this process requires patience and persistence.

In total, from the discovery of a promising bacterium to the creation of a formulated product, proven to be effective and ready for the market, it can take around 10 years - a real test of any scientist's resilience.

Customized solutions: the new requirement of modern agriculture

The final challenge is to ensure that the tests are relevant to the producer's reality. The current trend in the agricultural sector is the search for customized solutions, adapted to the specific conditions of the farms: “There has to be a solution for every field and every farmer”, says the researcher.

This personalized approach requires more science, more rigor and more local knowledge - exactly what VINNY seeks to build.

A Europe united by science and the vine

InPP is part of this consortium, made up of 19 partners from ten countries, The project is led by the University of Minho and funded by the Horizon Europe program.

Together, they seek to answer a question that could shape the future of European viticulture: Will it be possible to find effective biosolutions for all partner countries?

The answer is still being written - in laboratories, in experimental vineyards, in fields in different climates and geographies.
And it's made up of small discoveries, many frustrations and a huge commitment to science.

Because protecting the vineyard of the future is not just a technical ambition.
It is a cultural, economic and environmental commitment.
And VINNY is helping to design that future - one microorganism at a time.

AlViGen project strengthens genomic surveillance of agricultural diseases in Alentejo

October 24, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

The final workshop highlighted three years of research dedicated to the early detection of pathogens in crops such as wheat and olive groves.

The project AlViGen has reached its final stretch, concluding three years of research focused on the genomic surveillance of agricultural diseases. The results now presented promise to strengthen the Alentejo agricultural sector's ability to respond to emerging phytosanitary threats.

On the day October 23rd, The final project workshop, The event brought together researchers, producers and technicians to share results and reflect on the future of genomic surveillance in Portuguese agriculture.

A pioneering genomic surveillance center

During AlViGen, the Alentejo's first genomic surveillance center, an infrastructure with capacity for early detection of diseases in strategic crops such as wheat and olive grove. This breakthrough marks a decisive step towards a more precise, sustainable and science-based agriculture.

Results and scientific contributions

Using innovative molecular tools, the project team succeeded:

Identify pathogenic fungi before visible symptoms appear on the plants;
Characterizing yellow rust strains, genetically linking them to others known at a global level;
Detecting resistance genes in wheat to the strains currently present in Portugal;
Developing diagnostic methods able to distinguish the different species of the fungus that causes gafa in olive groves.

During the workshop, the potential of the analysis of the airborne fungi community as a tool for early warning for multiple pathogens, allowing for more effective and preventive management of crop diseases.

From research to practical application

The event ended with a debate on how transform AlViGen results in a detection and warning service accessible to the agricultural sector. The initiative reflects the joint commitment between science, innovation and production, with a view to protecting national agriculture from the challenges of the future.

Partnerships and thanks

InnovPlantProtect would like to thank all the partners and funders of the project:
University of Évora, John Innes Centre, INIAV, De Prado, CERSUL, Eugénio de Almeida Foundation, Torre das Figueiras Estate, Almojanda, Malheiro Estate, Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV), la Caixa“ Foundation”, BPI Bank e Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira

InPP was in Italy for the kick-off meeting of the European PROSPER project

October 6, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

InPP took part in the kick-off meeting for the European PROSPER project, held on October 2 and 3 in Pavia, Italy. In attendance were the director of the Monitoring and Diagnostics Department, Ilaria Marengo, and the project manager, Bruno Orrico.

PROSPER's main objective is to transform European agriculture by valorizing highly resilient “orphan” legumes - forgotten crops, but full of potential to face the climate and food challenges of the future.

The project promotes sustainable, innovative practices adapted to different agricultural realities.

Over the two days, 27 partners from 13 countries met for presentations, in-depth discussions and strategic talks about the project's next steps.

We are excited about what comes next, certain that this journey will be more than a collaboration - it will be a true cooperation within an exceptional team.

Join us and keep up to date with all the news from the PROSPER Project!

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EVENTS

Biotechnology: agricultural revolution “just around the corner”

March 19, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Nature Plants highlights the advantages of new genome editing techniques but warns of three crucial aspects that still need to be addressed.

“The rapid development of plant biotechnologies is profoundly shaping crop improvement and catalyzing the next revolution in agriculture,” writes an editorial recently published by Nature Plants, entitled Next-generation crop engineering (Next-generation crop engineering).

Crop improvement no longer has to depend on naturally occurring mutations and artificially generated variations can be the raw material for further improvement, the text argues. “A much broader spectrum of phenotypic space is ready for exploration, allowing the development of ideal phenotypes adapted to the heterogeneous environments of Earth, or even Space,” argue the authors of the paper. article, He concluded that “a new agricultural revolution driven by biotechnology could be just around the corner”.

The editorial refers to the promise and advantages of the new genome editing techniques, particularly compared to classical breeding, but not only. And it warns of three crucial factors that are still missing in order to achieve high levels of variation through gene editing: 1) a better understanding of the key regulators for genes that are important from an evolutionary or developmental point of view; 2) being able to dissect networks of genes that control phenotypes of interest and regulatory networks in cis that affect gene expression; 3) to establish stable and efficient transformation and regeneration procedures for most species.

Unless genetic editing in planta is developed quickly, breeding based on gene editing will be unable to benefit recalcitrant species. It is also recalled that there are alternative strategies for engineering new generation crops, such as the transfection of viral RNA in sprays, which allows for the temporary adjustment of agronomic characteristics without modifying the genetic material.

Updated measures against citrus greening

March 10, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

The DGAV has announced new requirements for citrus production and marketing, due to the African citrus psyllid plague.

The technical requirements for the production and marketing of citrus fruits and other rutaceous plants in a place free from Trioza erytreae, the insect vector of the disease citrus greening, were recently updated and published by the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV).

The rutaceae are a family of trees in which the genus Citrus is imperative from the point of view of economic value. O citrus greening, greening citrus greening, Huanglongbing disease or citrus greening is caused by the African citrus psyllid (Trioza erytreae), an insect vector that also causes direct damage to citrus fruits.

“In view of the detection of Trioza erytreae in some regions of the country and given the expansion that has already occurred in the area infested by this insect, we have tried to ensure a set of conditions to ensure the continuity of production and marketing of citrus propagating material in regions where the pest is present,” explain the DGAV officials in a press release. document. The update was motivated by “experience gained in the meantime” and by the new legislation in force: Annex VIII of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and Ordinance no. 142/2020.

A *Trioza erytreae* is a quarantine pest on national territory.

In the T. erytreae, In addition to the obligatory declaration of mother or nursery plants, citrus and other rutaceous plants must be produced “in a place with complete physical protection against this insect” and have been subject to two official inspections in the last growing season without showing any symptoms of the pest.

For marketing, the plants must also be kept in a place with complete physical protection against this insect “and come from exempt areas (outside infested zones and buffer zones) or from nurseries located in demarcated zones”, among other requirements, which aim to guarantee that no infestation occurs.

InPP has a cooperation project with the DGAV to take part in the task force phytosanitary measures and to support the biological control plan with a view to controlling the Trioza erytreae.

Feature image: mac231/ Pixabay

Genomic prediction to increase agricultural productivity

March 4, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Researchers at InPP are developing machine learning methods for predicting phenotypic traits from genetic information of key crops. The project is led by Manisha Sirsat, from the Data Management and Risk Analysis Department, which is headed by Ricardo Ramiro, in collaboration with the Protection of Specific Crops Department, headed by Paula Oblessuc.

Over the last decade, machine learning has become part of our everyday lives, when it suggests the next song you should listen to or the restaurant you should go to. This branch of artificial intelligence is focused on building models and applications that can learn from data, in order to predict a particular outcome. For this to be possible, large amounts of data are necessary which, until recently, would preclude its application in most fields of biology. However, in the last 20 years, biology has become a data-intensive discipline, due to the revolution brought by high-throughput systems for fields as disparate as genomics and microscopy. Thus, machine learning methods are now being applied to a wide range of biological questions.

At InPP, the team is taking advantage of the availability of high-throughput genomic and phenotypic data for key phenotypes of important crops (e.g. wheat genomes and yield) and using this data to develop machine learning models that can predict the phenotype from the genotype. This approach is termed Genomic Prediction. “The aim is to develop an advanced genomic prediction tool which uses genome-wide genetic markers to predict complex traits,” states Manisha Sirsat. “This will allow us to identify genetic markers that can increase agricultural productivity and that can accelerate plant breeding programs,” adds Ricardo Ramiro.