vitamina A – InnovPlantProtect

NEWS

InPP attends celebration of 7 years of CoLABs: Balance and future of innovation

July 1, 2025
Blog, Highlight, News
Ines Ferreira

On June 30, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) was present at the meeting “7 years of CoLABs: impacts and perspectives”, which brought together political decision-makers, experts from the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, leaders from different sectors, representatives of public and private entities and the representatives of the 41 Collaborative Laboratories (CoLAB), at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento in Lisbon.

The meeting, organized by the Forum of Collaborative Laboratories (FCoLAB), aimed to reflect on the impact of the work carried out by the different CoLABs over the last seven years, as well as to address future prospects and identify strategies to boost the contribution of scientific research and innovation to the economy and society.

This initiative was an opportunity to showcase the products, services and solutions developed by CoLAB over the last seven years, highlighting its contribution to innovation, competitiveness and sustainability in various sectors of the economy. The application recently launched by InPP, iCountPests, which allows pests to be counted automatically using images from traps, reducing the time invested in monitoring and making it possible to create a pest history, was also highlighted.

The event was attended by the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, Manuel Heitor, from the IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research and former Minister of Science and Innovation, António Grilo, President of ANI, among others.

In his speech, the Minister for Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, highlighted the purpose of science at national level: “We hope that the science created in Portugal will generate innovation. More than technology, innovation is the answer to society's problems. You are the agents of change!”.

During the session, the main activity indicators and proven impact of the first seven years of CoLABs' activity were also presented, and multisectoral perspectives on their role in the national science and innovation ecosystem were debated, focusing on topics such as socio-economic impact, internationalization, business competitiveness, technological innovation and sustainability.

The activity indicators and the impact of the 7 years of activity are as follows:

More than 260 projects approved
More than 1,300 qualified jobs created
19M€ in tax revenue generated
More than 900 interactions with companies
33 patent applications (10 granted)
680 scientific articles published

The two afternoon panels were attended by companies, partners and management entities, who reflected on the impact generated so far and presented proposals for maximizing CoLAB's long-term contribution to both the economy and Portuguese society.

At a time when the basic funding options for CoLABs are being discussed, this event is of the utmost importance. The area of crop protection, in particular, needs more investment in innovation. Holding this event was important for bringing this urgent and strategically important issue to the debate.

The InPP was also present in the exhibition area, receiving important visitors, including the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, the Secretary of State for the Economy, João Rui Ferreira, the Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, the President of the FCT, Madalena Alves, the President of the National Innovation Agency, António Grilo, the President of the National Monitoring Committee for the RRP, Pedro Dominguinhos and the Executive Director of Ciência Viva, Ana Noronha.

Image credits: InnovPlantProtect - Inês Ferreira

Seminar highlights CoLABs' contribution to the future of agricultural and agri-food innovation

June 12, 2025
Blog, News
Ines Ferreira

On June 11th, InnovPlantProtect (InPP) held a seminar on “Six years of innovation: CoLABs” path to the future of the agricultural and agri-food sectors", at the National Agriculture Fair (FNA) in Santarém.

The event brought together, for the first time, six Collaborative Laboratories (CoLABs) with direct involvement in the agricultural and agri-food sectors: InnovPlantProtect, CoLAB4Food, FeedInov CoLAB, Food4Sustainability, MORE CoLAB and SmartFarmCoLAB.

Round table 1 - Sofia Couto (ANI), Paulo Madeira (InPP), André Mota (Colab4Food), Cristina Monteiro (FeedInov), Margarida Palma (Food4Sustainability), Albino Bento (MORE CoLAB), and Helena Vazão (SmartFarmCoLAB)

The program included two round tables. The first, dedicated to “Innovation in Action: The Results and Impacts of CoLABs in Agriculture and Agrifood”, representatives from each CoLAB took part, presenting success stories and projects developed, with emphasis on the intervention of the innovation manager at InnovPlantProtect, Paulo Madeira, He shared InPP's achievements in developing solutions for more sustainable agriculture.

The second round table, under the theme “Partnerships for the Future: How CoLABs are Driving Innovation in the Agricultural and Agri-Food Sector”, The event was attended by partner companies and associations, who stressed the importance of collaborating with the CoLABs. Among the speakers were Pedro Viterbo, manager of Fertiprado, InnovPlantProtect's partner, accompanied by representatives of the following organizations Sense Test, Associação Portuguesa Dos Industriais De Alimentos Compostos Para Animais (IACA), Building Global Innovators (BGI), DEIFIL Technology and TeroMovigo.

The seminar ended with a moment of joint reflection, with speeches from all the executive directors of the CoLABs present, including the executive director of InnovPlantProtect, António Saraiva, The meeting was organized by the European Commission, which stressed the importance of cooperation and strategic coordination between the Collaborative Laboratories, reinforcing their collective commitment to innovation and sustainable development in the agricultural and agri-food sectors.

Throughout the seminar, the importance of synergies between science, innovation and the market became clear, as did the need to strengthen funding and guarantee conditions for the continuity and growth of these Collaborative Laboratories, whose impacts are already visible in the national agricultural and agri-food ecosystem.

This meeting was an important moment for sharing experiences and strengthening collaborative work, charting a joint path towards a more competitive, sustainable and innovative future for agriculture and agri-food in Portugal.

CoLABs in the spotlight at FNA: Innovation and Impact for Agriculture and Agrifood

June 3, 2025
Blog, News
Ines Ferreira

O InnovPlantProtect (InPP) promotes the seminar “Six years of innovation: The path of CoLABs for the future of the agricultural and agri-food sectors”, on the next day June 11th, from 09h30 until 11h00, in center stage at Espaço InsectERA, located in the Central Cloisters of the National Center for Agricultural Exhibitions and Markets (CNEMA) in Santarém.

The seminar aims to present the practical results and real impact of six Collaborative Laboratories (CoLABs) in Portugal - InnovPlantProtect, Colab4Food, FeedInov, Food4Sustainability, MORE and SmartFarmCoLAB. These interface infrastructures are essential pillars of the National Innovation System (SNI) and play a growing and essential role in the dynamics of innovation for agriculture and agri-food.

The event will be attended by members of the teams and partners of each of the CoLABs, who will talk about their vision of the added value of these interface and innovation entities, from the point of view of those who collaborate directly with them.

The initiative, which is part of the National Agriculture Fair (FNA) 2025, which this year has the theme “Biosolutions” and will be the stage for exploring the innovations that are shaping the future of the sector, brings together different representatives of the innovation ecosystem to show the role of CoLABs in stimulating the transfer of knowledge and making innovation available to agriculture and agri-food in Portugal, creating value and attracting highly qualified human resources to the country.

See the full program in the image below.

The registration for the event is free, but mandatory due to the limited capacity of the space. Guarantee your presence by filling in the available form here.

We look forward to welcoming you for a morning of sharing and debate on the future of innovation in the agricultural and agri-food sectors!

EVENTS

A scent of lavender...

February 19, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

Insect vector of Xylella is attracted or repelled by different aromatic plants depending on the sex of the adult and its distance from the source of essential oils.

*Lavandula angustifolia* Photo: JLPC/ Wiki

It was already known that the nefarious Xylella fastidiosa “liked” Lavandula spp.; after all, it was in a lavender plant that the presence of the bacterium in Portugal was confirmed for the first time in January 2019. A team of scientists has since concluded that the males of the insect vector of the Xylella in Europe are attracted to the essential oils of lavender over long distances.

“Sustainable vector control is an essential part of pest management strategies.”, remember those responsible for the European XF-ACTORS project. The results of this study could contribute to the development of innovative approaches and tools to control the insect, as alternatives to the use of synthetic pesticides Philaenus spumarius, vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe - essential to control the spread of the bacteria.

*Lavandula angustifolia* Photo: Norbert Nagel/ Wiki

The team found that the peripheral olfactory system of the P. spumarius captures the volatile organic compounds present in the essential oils of pelargonium (also known as geranium or sardinia). Pelargonium graveolens, from Cymbopogon nardus (a relative of lemongrass), which produces citronella, and the Lavandula angustifolia (before officinalis), lavender. But the effect of this detection depends on the “dose” and the distance.

At any distance, both lavender and pelargonium repelled the females. Males, on the other hand, were attracted to geranium and repelled by citronella. At close range, both lavender and citronella were repellent to both females and males.

You can consult the original scientific article here.

“Science can answer 99% of the questions you ask”

February 11, 2021
Latest
Ines Ferreira

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, some of InnovPlantProtect's women researchers share the reasons they became scientists.

“I became a scientist for the thrill of being able to discover something new every day and a plant scientist in particular with the dream of producing plants resistant to pathogens, avoiding the need for chemical pesticides. A win-win solution to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture and the production costs to small farmers.”

Cristina Azevedo, PhD researcher, Head of the New Biopesticides Department

“Ever since I was a child, I always felt drawn to nature, particularly at the beach, where I would explore sea life, but also at my grandparents’ vegetable garden, where I loved to play. The fact that my mother is really passionate about nature, particularly about plants and birds, also played a role when I decided to apply for Biology. On top of that, there's my desire to understand the world around me; being a scientist allows me to ask questions and work towards an answer, and that moment when you discover something new in the lab is still beyond thrilling.”

Cláudia Rato da Silva, PhD researcher, Protection of Specific Crops Department

“I have had a passion for technology and science since childhood, so I decided to pursue my career in a computer science discipline in which Artificial Intelligence is one of the great research fields, which could help to solve complex problems of nearly every field. ‘The human brain cannot deal with terabytes but Machine Learning can!’ Hence I was inspired to do research in this field.”

Manisha Sirsat, PhD researcher, Department of Data Management and Risk Analysis

“When I was younger, I used to ask my parents ‘Why this happens?’ or ‘Why this works the way it does?’ Most of the questions were ‘Why?’ and my parents didn't know how to answer, so they encouraged me to go look for it. From then on, I didn't ask my parents anymore. I would search for the answer. That feeling did not disappear as I grew up. So, during my school years, I always searched for the answer to the question ‘Why?’. When I was in 12th grade, I had to choose my college degree and it was very difficult to choose between all the available courses, but I knew that it would be related to science, because 99% of the questions that you ask, Science can answer it. And that was the moment that I decided to become a scientist - to search for the answers to my questions. Science is a part of our life, Science is in everything, with Science you can change the world.”

Cláudia Almeida Silva, MSc researcher, Department of New Formulations and Matrices for the Application of Biopesticides

“I decided to become a scientist when my father got sick, and I knew that I should contribute to science to help answer the questions that still had no answers. This profession showed me that there are many things that we already know but, on the other hand, there is much more that we need to discover and learn. The idea that small discoveries that you can make can lead to the solution of big problems is gratifying to me.”

Cátia Patrício, MSc Researcher, Department of New Biopesticides

“As an undergraduate, I started collaborating in a Nematology laboratory at the University where I was studying. There began my passion for science, and particularly for phytopathology. Since then, I have been gaining more knowledge and working in this topic, and it is a great pleasure for me to be able to keep on following this career at the InnovPlantProtect CoLab, with such a prodigious team of women and men scientists.”

Ana Cláudia Silva, MSc Researcher, Department of New Biopesticides

“I didn't always want to become a scientist. One thing I did know was that I had been forever fascinated with my surroundings, nature at its finest. And there was this random driving force that made me question things, as although I felt an overwhelming need to pursue all the answers. Why is everything the way it is? Why is that leaf falling from the tree? Questioning, and an overall endless curiosity, that's what made me become ‘sort-of-a-scientist’”.

Maria Miguel Pires, MSc Researcher, Department of New Biopesticides

“Since childhood, I have always been fascinated with nature, how plants survive on rainy days, how the dough rises, how the grape juice that I could drink turns into something that I was not allowed to... at the end of the day, how life makes sense! So, I wanted to know more and more, and that curiosity made me pursue life sciences.”

Diana Pimentel, PhD researcher/ Biostatistics Technician, Department of Data Management and Risk Analysis

“Isn't it fascinating how the tiniest organisms can affect a whole ecosystem? And, even more so, to understand how they work and how we can fight or improve them? This feeling was what made me pursue a scientific career. Science is non-stop challenges but is also non-stop knowledge and progress.”

Jordana Branco, MSc researcher, Department of New Biopesticides

“I have always loved nature and helping people, in order to always contribute to a more sustainable world and better health for all people. I confess that I was also fascinated by the investigation, due to CSI. Ahahah And that's why I became a scientific researcher, always ready to promote a better world.”

Diana Sousa, MSc researcher, Department Protection of Specific Crops

The fight against Xylella fastidiosa has reached the laboratory

February 4, 2021
Blog
Ines Ferreira

XfSTOP aims to develop a solution to protect olive groves against the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. The project is led by InnovPlantProtect's New Biopesticides Department - Department 1, headed by researcher Cristina Azevedo.

The team is now starting laboratory work, with the aim of trying to isolate peptides (small amino acids) that inhibit the growth of the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. “We have established collaboration with researchers in different countries, through which we have obtained genomic DNA from different isolates [strains] of Xylella, and we are in the process of isolating the genes that code for the virulence proteins against which we want to select the peptides,” explains Cristina Azevedo.

Isolation of *Xylella fastidiosa* (strain LM10)

The director of Dep. 1 said that the team is also “starting to isolate bacterial endophytes [organisms that live inside a host] present in the xylem of olive varieties grown in the Alentejo region (Cobrançosa and Arbequina) and of an Italian variety that is resistant to Xylella (Leccino), from the Herdade de Reguengo, belonging to INIAV, Elvas center”.

The project's acronym, XfSTOP, stands for “Integrated approach to disease management for the biocontrol of Xylella fastidiosa in olive trees”. The olive tree is of enormous economic importance in Portugal, particularly in the Alentejo. The biopesticide to be developed will use a microorganism capable of coexisting in the same environment as the olive tree. Xylella, The plant will then produce a biological compound capable of eliminating the bacteria. This mechanism will be sustainable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

News & Events