vitamina A – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

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.

InPP took part in an Open Day dedicated to the cereals of Baixo Mondego

September 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

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.

(Re)watch the interview here.

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect and Voz do Campo magazine

Maize in Portugal: phytosanitary challenges and new emerging threats

August 19, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

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.

EVENTS

InPP deseja Boas-festas a todos

December 21, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

O InPP deseja a todos os amigos, colegas, colaboradores, investigadores, funcionários, associados e famílias um ótimo Natal e um excelente Ano Novo!

Esperamos que o ano de 2023 seja repleto de ciência e traga muitas realizações académicas, científicas e pessoais a todos!

InnovPlantProtect reuniu com reitora da Universidade de Évora

December 20, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

No passado dia 19 de dezembro, Pedro Fevereiro, diretor executivo do InnovPlantProtect (InPP), reuniu com a nova Reitora da Universidade de Évora (UÉ), Hermínia Vasconcelos Vilar, acompanhado pela representante na UÉ, Rosário Félix.

A visita teve como objetivo reforçar as ligações institucionais em curso, e potenciar novas áreas de atuação, articuladas com estratégias locais, de forma a criar mais impacto territorial, como contributo à resolução de grandes desafios, que possam reproduzir ganhos no futuro das regiões.

Potenciar laços de cooperação em torno do tópico da Sustentabilidade Agrícola foi um dos vários assuntos abordados.

À Reitora Hermínia Vasconcelos Vilar resta-nos agradecer a visita. Para o futuro, as duas entidades deixam a certeza de um reforço das suas relações.

InnovPlantProtect recebeu a visita da Clever Leaves

December 15, 2022
Blog
Ines Ferreira

No passado dia 14 de Dezembro, o InnovPlantProtect (InPP) recebeu a visita da empresa Clever Leaves, operadora multinacional norte-americana líder e produtora licenciada de canábis de qualidade farmacêutica, com representação em Portugal.

A representar a Clever Leaves, estiveram o Ivanshu Shantilal, representante responsável em Portugal, e Ana Matias, Diretora de Investigação e Desenvolvimento (I&D), que ficaram a conhecer as atividades do laboratório colaborativo. A visita pretendeu também discutir futuras oportunidades de cooperação entre as duas instituições.

Durante a visita, o diretor executivo Pedro February apresentou o InPP e as diferentes áreas de investigação que estão a ser exploradas pelos cinco departamentos do laboratório colaborativo (CoLAB). As apresentações foram seguidas por uma visita às novas instalações e laboratórios.

Um agradecimento especial à Clever Leaves pela visita.

A Clever Leaves é uma empresa multinacional de canábis com ênfase no cultivo ecologicamente sustentável, e em larga escala, e processamento de qualidade farmacêutica, que tem como pilar do seu negócio global de canábis. Com operações e investimentos nos Estados Unidos, Canadá, Colômbia, Alemanha, e Portugal, a Clever Leaves criou uma rede de distribuição eficaz e uma pegada global, com uma base construída sobre a eficiência do capital e um rápido crescimento. A Clever Leaves obteve uma licença provisória em Portugal do Infarmed – a autoridade sanitária portuguesa – que permite à Clever Leaves cultivar, importar e exportar flores secas para fins medicinais e de investigação.