vitamina A – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

InPP is part of the BioLivingLABS project, dedicated to the sustainability of inland territories

October 3, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

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.

More news about this new project soon.

InPP took part in the National Exhibition of the Projects of the Portuguese Pact for the Blue Bioeconomy

September 26, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

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.

InPP joins BioLivingLABS project - Bioeconomy at the service of the sustainability of inland territories

September 22, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News, Project
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) recently received approval for an application submitted to COMPETE2030-2024-6 - Collective Actions - Transfer of scientific and technological knowledge - BioLivingLABS - Bioeconomy at the service of the sustainability of inland territories, led by MORE CoLAB - Laboratório Colaborativo Montanhas de Investigação, Associação, in partnership with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco (IPCB) and AQUAVALOR.

BioLivingLABS aims to promote the economic valorization of research and development (R&D) results obtained by various institutions in the North, Center and Alentejo. To this end, it will create an experimental demonstration network, the so-called Living Labs, The project will be held in the innovation hubs of Mirandela, Douro, Covilhã and Elvas. In addition, demonstration actions, workshops, an inland innovation catalog and training on intellectual property protection will be developed with the aim of encouraging the incorporation of innovative solutions in the business sectors of these regions.

Scheduled to begin in October and lasting 24 months, the project has a total eligible investment of over 740,000 euros, financed by COMPETE2030 - Thematic Program for Innovation and Digital Transition. For InPP, this project is a strategic opportunity to strengthen its mission as a center for technology development and transfer, boosting the practical application of scientific knowledge to promote sustainable development.

This initiative confirms InPP's commitment to open and sustainable innovation, integrating science, technology and regional development to respond to the challenges and potential of the interior of the country.

EVENTS

Discovering the fascinating trees in the Elvas Municipal Garden

April 28, 2021
Latest
Ines Ferreira

O InnovPlantProtect (InPP) and D. Sancho II Secondary School, from Agrupamento de Escolas n.º 3 de Elvas, are going to organize a pedipaper at the Elvas Municipal Garden for 10th graders to explore, identify and marvel at the different trees in the garden and their differentiating characteristics. The initiative is part of and will take place on Fascination of Plants Day.

The event, to which Elvas City Council (CME) joins, will be held on the morning of May 18, 2021, Fascination of Plants Day. The Municipal Garden of Elvas is the largest green space in this Alentejo city, where the InPP is based. There you'll find specimens of olaias, linden trees, olive trees, cedars, orange trees, horse chestnut trees, mulberry trees, casuarinas, ash trees and carob trees, among many others.

Olaia in the Municipal Garden of Elvas — Among olaias, linden and olive trees, you can find orange trees, horse chestnuts and casuarinas, among many other trees, in the Elvas Municipal Garden.

The activity starts at 8:30 a.m. and will be divided into three sessions of 90 minutes each, for three 10th grade classes at Escola Secundária D. Sancho II: from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.. InPP researchers and teachers from the school will be on site to assist the participants. Another class, from the multimedia technical course, is due to take part, reporting on the event. At a later date, a similar activity will be offered to the class from the technical-vocational agricultural course.

The topic of Biodiversity is covered by the 10th grade. As a result of this activity, InPP, Escola Secundária D. Sancho II and CME will continue to collaborate on the development of a physical identification system for the Garden's trees, based on a QR (Quick Response) code.

This QR code, once scanned by a visitor's smartphone, will give access to a database on the trees in the Elvas Municipal Garden, including their identification, description, curiosities, history and mythology. This database/digital brochure will be created by InPP researchers and the school's students and teachers, and made available to the CME and all the secondary schools in the municipality of Elvas, in a project that should run until 2022.

The Municipal Garden is located on Avenida António Sardinha in Elvas.

Fascination of Plants Day is an initiative of the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) and seeks to arouse enthusiasm and draw attention to the importance of plant science in various areas, from agriculture and sustainable food production, to forestry and the production of non-food goods, as well as culture and leisure.

In Portugal, the initiative is coordinated by ITQB NOVA and Portuguese Society of Plant Biology, The aim is for Portuguese institutions and companies to join hundreds of organizations from more than 40 countries in celebrating the wonderful world of plants. Portugal is considered a success story and is traditionally one of the countries that brings the most institutions together to celebrate this day.

Chasing Elvas Municipal Garden's fascinating trees

April 27, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

InnovPlantProtect (InPP) is organizing a paper chase game (peddy-paper, in Portuguese) with D. Sancho II Secondary School for 10^th graders to explore, identify and marvel at Elvas Municipal Garden’s diverse trees and their differentiating characteristics, as a celebration of Fascination of Plants Day.

This event, with which the Municipality of Elvas associates itself, will take place in the morning of May 18, 2021 - Fascination of Plants Day. The Municipal Garden is the biggest green space in this small city of the Alentejo region where InPP is based. It holds specimens of Judas trees, lime trees, olive trees, cedars, orange trees, horse chestnut trees, mulberry trees, Casuarina, ash trees and carob trees, among many others, which are yet to be catalogued and mapped.

The activity will start at 8:30 AM and will be divided into 3 (three) 90-minutes time slots, for three different 10^th grade classes from D. Sancho II School: 8:30 - 10 AM / 10 - 11:30 AM / 11:30 AM - 1 PM. InPP researchers and teachers from the school will be on site to assist the participants. A different class, from the multimedia technical course, shall also participate, reporting on the event. At a later date, a similar activity shall be proposed to the class from the professional technical course in mixed farming.

The theme of Biodiversity is taught in the 10^th grade in Portugal. As a result of this activity, InPP and D. Sancho II Secondary School will continue collaborating to develop a physical signing system for the trees, based on a QR code. The code, once read by a visitor's smartphone, will give access to a complete data base about the trees of the Municipal Garden, including their identification, description, curiosities, history and local mythology. This data base/ digital brochure is to be built by InPP researchers and the school's students and teachers, and made available to the Municipality and all its secondary schools, in a project that should last until 2022.

The Municipal Garden is located in Avenida António Sardinha, in Elvas.

Fascination of Plants Day is promoted internationally by the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO) with the aim of awakening enthusiasm and calling attention to the importance of plant science in different areas, from agriculture and sustainable food production, to forestry and the production of other kinds of goods, as well as culture and leisure.

In Portugal, the initiative is coordinated by ITQB NOVA and Portuguese Society of Plant BiologyThe goal is that national institutions and companies join hundreds of organizations worldwide, from more than 40 countries, to celebrate the wonderful world of plants. Portugal is considered a success story and is traditionally one of the countires with more organizations joining the celebrations.

InnovPlantProtect wins “la Caixa” with AI project

April 9, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Artificial intelligence at the service of prediction and early detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in assembled received funding from the Promove 2020 program.

We are delighted to share that our project “AI applied to a system for the prediction and early detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in mounted/ dehesa” is one of the winners of the Promove 2020 Program, launched by the “la Caixa” Foundation, in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

The results of the competition were announced today. “We are sure that the conditions are in place for this to be a successful partnership,” says the message we received. Congratulations to the Pest and Disease Monitoring and Diagnosis department, and to the entire InPP. Now, let the work continue!

Mount infected by *Phytophthora cinnamomi*.

Feature image: Juan Glez/ Pixabay

News & Events