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.
The Department of Formulations and Process Development for the Application of Biopesticides is dedicated to the design and production of encapsulation and transport systems, suitable for protecting our biological agents from the degradation that occurs during prolonged storage and during application. These protective and carrier systems, which are nanometric and micrometric in size, will be incorporated into solid and liquid formulations in a format that adapts to the specific agricultural application for which they have been designed.
Formulations can be solid or liquid.
After understanding the specific needs of each bioagent, we adjust the characteristics of the respective transport systems accordingly and also focus on developing viable manufacturing processes, potentially scalable to industrial volumes.
Solid nanoparticles, lipid nanoemulsions and polymeric microcapsules will be developed, obtained using precise and sophisticated processes already adopted by the industry. Innovation will be sought through the use of sustainable ingredients and combinations with previous systems, for easier adoption by the biocontrol market.
“The current legislation on GMOs [genetically modified organisms], adopted in 2001, is not suitable for the new genomic techniques (NTG),” says the long-awaited study published by the European Commission (EC) at the request of the Council of the European Union (EU). O document led the EC to announce which will “initiate a broad and open consultation process to discuss the design of a new legal framework for these biotechnologies”.
“The study shows that NTG, which are techniques for altering the genome of an organism, have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable food system within the framework of the objectives of the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy“, says the EC statement. “With consumer and environmental safety as the guiding principle, the time has come to establish an open dialogue with citizens, Member States and the European Parliament in order to decide together on the way forward for the use of these biotechnologies in the EU,” stresses Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
“NTGs have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable food system.”
The report identifies limitations to the legislation's ability to keep up with scientific developments, causing implementation challenges and illegal uncertainties, which need to be resolved. It recognizes that it may not be justifiable to apply different levels of regulatory oversight to products with similar degrees of risk, as in the case of conventionally improved plants and those obtained from certain NTGs.
“Future regulatory actions will need to address the knowledge gaps and limitations identified in this study.” In addition, “a greater effort should be made to inform and involve the public regarding NGTs, and to assess their opinions,” admits the EC.
Entitled ‘Study on the status of new genomic techniques under Union law and in light of the Court of Justice ruling in Case C-528/16’, the study examines the current state of NTG, “taking into account the ‘state of the art’ of knowledge and the views of EU countries and stakeholders”. The Council of the EU requested this state of play on NTG under European law (Directive 2001/18/EC, Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, Directive 2009/41/EC e Regulation (EC) 1830/2003), in the light of the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-528/16.
“The current GMO legislation, adopted in 2001, is not fit for purpose for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)”, says the awaited study published by the European Commission (EC), at the request of the EU Council. The document prompted the EC to announce the start of a “wide and open consultation process to discuss the design of a new legal framework for these biotechnologies”.
“The study shows that NGTs, which are techniques to alter the genome of an organism, have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable food system as part of the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy”, states the EC in the related press release. “With the safety of consumers and the environment as the guiding principle, now is the moment to have an open dialogue with citizens, Member States and the European Parliament to jointly decide the way forward for the use of these biotechnologies in the EU”, emphasizes Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.
The study identifies limitations to the capacity of legislation to keep pace with scientific developments, causing implementation challenges and legal uncertainties, which need to be addressed. It recognizes it may not be justified to apply different levels of regulatory oversight to similar products with similar levels of risk, as is the case for plants conventionally bred and obtained from certain NGTs.
“Future policy action would need to address the knowledge gaps and limitations identified in this study”. Furthermore, “importantly, more effort should be made to inform and engage with the public on NGTs and assess their views”, admits the EC.
Entitled ‘Study on the status of new genomic techniques under Union law and in light of the Court of Justice ruling in Case C-528/16’, the report examines the status of NGTs “taking into account the state of the art knowledge and the views of the EU countries and stakeholders”. The Council of the European Union asked for this study, regarding the status of new genomic techniques under Union Law (Directive 2001/18/EC, Regulation (EC) 1829/2003, Directive 2009/41/EC and Regulation (EC) 1830/2003), in light of the Court of Justice's judgment in Case C-528/16.
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