Related Projects

Crop Protection Strategies for the Transition to Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture

This EU-funded project addresses the loss of harmful pesticides from the EU market, which is making crop protection more difficult even as it prevents environmental damage. CROPSAFE has identified three crops at risk, potatoes threatened by potato cyst nematode, tomatoes facing losses of up to 65% from root knot nematode, and bananas affected by banana weevils, and aims to develop sustainable pest management tools using bio-based residues like aquatic biomass and spent coffee grounds, working with three biorefining partners on bioactives, delivery materials, formulations and decision-support models.

Enhancing Europe's readiness for managing fall armyworm, an invasive pest threat

This EU-funded project addresses the fall armyworm (FAW), a highly invasive pest native to the Americas that reached mainland Europe by late 2023, with detections in Greece and Romania. As climate change and trade raise the risk of its spread, EUFAWREADY aims to equip farmers, advisors, and phytosanitary services with tools for early detection and sustainable management, combining research on FAW biology and impact with control strategies integrated into IPM guidelines.

Integrating breeding for IPM into the deployment landscape for wheat, potatoes and grain legumes

This Eu-funded project focuses on improving integrated pest management (IPM) for major crop diseases affecting wheat, potatoes, soybeans, peas, and white lupin. It addresses the impact of pathogens such as wheat rusts, potato blight, broomrape, and anthracnose, which significantly reduce agricultural productivity. The project develops tools and resources for variety-centric IPM strategies by combining knowledge of host resistance with pathogen virulence patterns. It also investigates the genetic basis of crop resistance, designs targeted IPM practices, and identifies pathways to scale up variety-centric solutions for broader agricultural use.

An integrated set of novel approaches to counter the emergence and proliferation of invasive and virulent soil-borne nematodes. 

This EU-Horizon project addresses the increasing threat that root-knot nematodes (RKN) and potato cyst nematodes (PCN) pose to global food production. These soil-dwelling plant parasites are becoming more problematic due to global warming, genetic selection, and restrictions on conventional agrochemicals. The project works to reduce the risk for both conventional and organic farming by developing optimised crop rotation schemes, host plant resistance adapted to specific needs, and improved use of the soil’s natural antagonistic potential. It also provides monitoring and risk-assessment tools to support evidence-based decision-making and policymaking by plant health authorities.

Next Generation Biopesticides for the control of the most “difficult-to-manage” pests and pathogens in fruits and vegetables

NextGenBioPest is an EU-funded project developing environmentally friendly solutions to reduce pesticide use while protecting crops. It combines advanced diagnostics, biological control, RNA-based pesticides, low-risk chemicals, and innovative agronomic practices to deliver effective and sustainable crop protection in key fruit and vegetable crops.

Platform for Helping small and medium farmers to Incorporate digital Technology for equal Opportunities.

This EU-funded project addresses the difficulties small and medium-sized farmers (SMFs) face in accessing the benefits of digital agriculture, even as large producers increasingly adopt digital technologies. The project is developing a platform that will enable SMFs to integrate digital tools into their work by connecting them with key resources, including free soil, water and crop advice. This supports collaboration among farmers and reinforces local agricultural knowledge and innovation systems.

Effective management strategies to tackle Clavibacter sepedonicus and Ralstonia solanacearum outbreaks on POtato and toMATO crops.

This EU-funded project focuses on the serious threats that harmful bacteria such as Ralstonia solanacearum and Clavibacter sepedonicus pose to potatoes and tomatoes, two widely consumed crops. These pathogens cause diseases like bacterial wilt and ring rot, which result in significant yield losses and economic impact. The project is evaluating natural pest control approaches, identifying resistance genes, and applying AI tools for early detection.

Risk AssessmenT InnOvatioN for low-risk pesticides.

This EU-funded project addresses the environmental and human health risks associated with synthetic pesticides. In the search for low-risk alternatives, researchers are exploring options such as plant extracts, semiochemicals, microbial products and dsRNA pesticides. However, despite ongoing regulatory efforts by the European Commission, a concrete risk assessment framework for low-risk pesticides (LRPs) is still missing. The project will develop a new risk assessment scheme for existing and emerging LRPs, including dsRNA and microbiome-based solutions.

Sustainable agriculture through novel pesticides using an integrated approach

This EU-funded project seeks to cut chemical pesticide use in potato and sugar beet cultivation, introducing 13 low-risk pesticides to replace harmful substances and reduce copper and insecticide use. It combines biocontrol solutions already proven on specialty crops with affordable, farmer-accepted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, tested through real-life trials in five European regions with farmer engagement.

Sustainable plant protection transition: a global health approach.

The EU-funded SPRINT project supports the Farm to Fork Strategy by reducing pesticide use and risks by 50% by 2030. It develops a Global Health Risk Assessment Toolbox to evaluate pesticide impacts on ecosystems, plants, animals, and humans, while promoting sustainable alternatives and transition pathways for plant protection.