Project description
Increasing market uptake of low-risk pesticides
The use of synthetic pesticides entails risks for environment and human health. In search of low-risk solutions, scientists are studying ways to substitute synthetic pesticides with plant extracts, semiochemicals, microbial and dsRNA pesticides. Despite ongoing regulatory efforts by the European Commission, we are still lacking a concrete risk assessment scheme for low-risk pesticides (LRPs). In this context, the EU-funded RATION project will develop a novel risk assessment scheme for currently used and emerging LRPs (dsRNA and microbiome solutions). Bringing together 22 partners from academia, industry and regulatory bodies, the project will benchmark EU regulatory science, uplift blockers holding back uptake of LRPs by the EU market and motivate research innovation in plant protection.
Objective
Low risk pesticides (LRP) including (i) plant extracts (ii) semiochemicals like pheromones and allelochemicals, (iii) microbial pesticides, are gaining ground in the global market, as substitutes of synthetic pesticides. In addition, new microbial solutions (phages, protists, microbial consortia) and ds-RNA pesticides are emerging, low-risk solutions expect to reach the market in coming years. Despite on-going regulatory efforts by the European Commission, we are still lacking a concrete risk assessment (RA) scheme relevant to LRPs, a point which blocks LRPs reaching the EU market. RATION timely comes to address these regulatory constraints and aims to develop a novel RA scheme, supported by the necessary guidance on methods and tools, tailored to the specific characteristics of established and emerging LRP solutions. This main goal will be achieved through a series of interrelated WPs aiming (i) to map the current status of LRPs in Europe and identify main regulatory constraints (WP1). In this quest it will be supported by a stakeholders forum composed of all relevant actors (industry, regulators, academics, famers, general public); (ii) to develop and validate, through a proof-of-concept exercise, innovative RA (and associated tools) for microbials (WP2), plant extracts, semiochemicals, pheromones (WP3) and, ds-RNA (WP4); and from there (iii) build a harmonized RA for all LRP and determine its socioeconomic impact (WP5), (iv) to effectively communicate and disseminate the new RA knowledge and its associated tools developed by RATION to relevant actors ensuring sustainability beyond project duration (WP6). RATION will benchmark EU regulatory science, uplift blockers holding back LRP uptake by the EU market and motivate research innovation in plant protection. To achieve these goals 22 partners from academia, industry and regulatory bodies, representing 10 member states and 2 non-EU member states, will join forces in a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary effort.
Fields of science
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
38221 Volos
Greece
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Participants (20)
1210 Wien
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1348 Louvain La Neuve
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7414002 NESS-ZIONA
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2800 Sandanski
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65439 Florsheim
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
70013 Irakleio
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1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
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6708 PB Wageningen
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06484 Quedlinburg
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04318 Leipzig
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24 100 Pulawy
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2260 Westerlo
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75007 Paris
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11145 Athina
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60314 Frankfurt Am Main
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7610001 Rehovot
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75009 Paris
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
28006 Madrid
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51373 Leverkusen
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24050 Grassobbio
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Partners (1)
07793 Seoul
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