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!
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the project launch meeting BioLivingLABS - Bioeconomia ao Serviço da Sustentabilidade dos Territórios do Interior (Bioeconomy at the Service of the Sustainability of Inland Territories), which took place on October 1st at the School of Agriculture of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB).
Funded by COMPETE 2023, the BioLivingLABS project, led by MORE CoLAB - Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação, in partnership with the InPP, the IPCB, from AQUAVALOR and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB).
This project's mission is to add value to the low-density territories in the north, center and south of the country by demonstrating and economically boosting the work carried out by the partners - through the creation, demonstration and application of products, processes and services resulting from joint research.
Four living laboratories will be created (Living Labs) in the innovation hubs of Mirandela, Douro, Covilhã and Elvas, which they intend to promote:
the transfer of knowledge;
technology demonstration;
strategic roadmapping and
the protection of intellectual property.
BioLivingLABS strengthens the link between academia, business and society, driving innovation and sustainability.
Expected impact: Over the course of 24 months, and with Living Labs dedicated to sectors such as olive groves and olive oil, vineyards and wine, fruit and cereals, legumes, among others, the project will contribute to:
increase regional competitiveness;
promote sustainable practices and
responding to the environmental, social and economic challenges facing inland territories.
On September 25, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the National Exhibition of Blue Bioeconomy Pact Projects, held at the Port of Leixões Cruise Terminal, for the exhibition session of the Algae Vertical project, led by PhytoBloom by Necton.
InPP, leader of sub-project 6 - Agriculture, was represented by department director Cristina Azevedo and executive director António Saraiva, who presented some of the new algae-based biosolutions that our team and partners are developing.
There were more than 300 participants and 80 entities, including companies, research centers and political decision-makers. The Opening Conference was attended by the Chairman of Inovamar's General and Supervisory Board, José Soares dos Santos, and round tables were held on the future of the blue economy in Portugal.
Algae Vertical explores the biotechnological potential of algae in sectors as diverse as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and energy.
Find out more about the Algae Vertical Project here.
Last Friday, August 26, the InPP received a visit from Catalonia's Councillor for External Action and Open Government, Victòria Alsina, and the delegate of the Government of Catalonia in Portugal, Rui Reis, They were accompanied by the Councillor of Elvas City Council, Paula Calado.
They were received by the heads of department, David Learmonth, iLaria Marengo e Sandra Correia, They presented InPP's infrastructures, laboratories and the different areas of research being explored by the collaborative laboratory's five departments.
The aim of this visit was to create and establish new partnerships and collaborations with this autonomous community of Spain, a key international player for Portugal in its economic and scientific spheres, in which the agri-food industries play a major role. Establishing partnerships is part of InPP's philosophy and, therefore, this visit allowed us to explore the strengths of each of those involved and find points of synergy, where we wanted to identify areas of interest for possible partnerships and collaborations.
During the visit to InPP's facilities, the delegation also had the opportunity to speak to some of InPP's researchers, who were able to personally explain some of the research they are currently carrying out at InPP in the fight against emerging plant pests and diseases.
Tiago Amaro explains the work of the New Biopesticides departmentRupesh Singh, researcher at the Department for the Protection of Specific CropsHadi Sheikhnejad, researcher at the Department for the Protection of Specific CulturesTânia Pinto, researcher in the Formulations and Process Development department
InnovPlantProtect (InPP) team identifies the most promising materials for encapsulating biological protection agents to control emerging pests and diseases in agricultural crops. Natural products of animal origin, from marine and terrestrial sources, as well as synthetic ones, have been the most widely used due to their low toxicity and biodegradability, the researchers conclude in a systematic review article now published in the scientific journal ACS Agricultural Science & Technology. But are these solutions scalable and economically viable?
Biological protection agents, microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi or biomolecules with active substances capable of preventing or controlling or suppressing pests and diseases in plants, have been considered more sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical pesticides. However, these agents are very sensitive to atmospheric conditions and begin to degrade due to humidity, temperature and solar radiation.
Due to the sensitivity of the active substances, the challenge is to develop a biodegradable and sustainable material that envelops, i.e. encapsulates the biological agents, protecting them so that they can be applied effectively to Mediterranean agricultural crops. The encapsulation of biological agents brings several advantages for the agricultural producer, namely ease of handling, controlled application of lower and less frequent dosages, greater specificity for the target, prolonged stability and maximized permanence, which leads to greater effectiveness of the biological agent in combating pests and diseases.
Schematic representation of the encapsulation process of a biological agent to protect pear pests
The four researchers analyzed the studies with a view to “identifying the materials most commonly used to encapsulate biological agents for pest and disease control with greater efficacy, greater systemic activity and less environmental impact”. The researchers also analyzed the encapsulation methods and techniques currently being used by research teams in various parts of the world.
“The data presented in this article indicate that materials based on polymers, of natural or synthetic origin, and inorganic materials can improve the stability and performance of a wide range of bioinspired active substances,” say the researchers.
However, the team warns that “although research interest in these encapsulating materials is increasing, the current level of knowledge does not yet allow for a totally fair and unbiased assessment of the pros and cons that will arise from the use of micro and nano systems for encapsulating biological agents and their use in agriculture”, adding that “a better understanding of the fate and long-term safety of these products is needed”.
“Although the technologies presented in this review exhibit promising efficacy and safety profiles, it is unlikely that all of them will be scalable and transformable into economically viable solutions to current and future agricultural problems. More research and development of efforts against crop pests and diseases is needed, focusing on strategies that truly take into account the needs of farmers in agricultural fields, as only then will innovation be possible,” the team concludes.
Researchers Cláudia Silva, Tânia Pinto, Sónia Siquenique and David Learmonth
On August 18th, researchers from the New Biopesticides Department of InnovPlantProtect (InPP).., Pedro Rosa e Tiago Amaro, were in the Tagus/Sorraia basin, in Coruche and Porto Alto, in Samora Correia, to collect samples of rice infected with the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, which causes pyriculariosis. The sampling was carried out as part of the BlaSTOP project - Developing integrated solutions to combat rice pyriculariosis.
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