Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SafeWax (Sustainable Bioinspired Wax Coating for Multi-Functional Crop Protection)
Période du rapport: 2023-03-01 au 2024-04-30
In a world increasingly challenged by fungal infections and ecological concerns from chemical fungicides, especially in European vineyards where 67% of all fungicides in the EU are used, there is a critical need for sustainable crop protection solutions. This project introduces SafeWax, a revolutionary antifungal coating inspired by the natural hydrophobic properties of plant cuticles. Utilizing fatty acids, SafeWax not only minimizes fungal growth and reduces the reliance on harmful chemicals but also enhances water efficiency by collecting and redirecting dew to the soil, using vegetable waste as a sustainable raw material.
SafeWax is designed to protect various crops, demonstrating its effectiveness on key Mediterranean crops like grapevines, tomatoes, and wheat. This aligns with strategic European agricultural policies such as the Green Deal, aiming to support sustainable farming practices and reduce pesticide use. The potential impacts of SafeWax are substantial, offering economic relief by lowering the costs of managing crop diseases.
Beyond its economic and environmental benefits, SafeWax provides farmers with a viable alternative to traditional pesticides, promoting healthier ecosystems and safer food production while adapting to climate change. This project not only protects crops but also supports a shift towards more sustainable agriculture, marking a significant step forward in meeting global agricultural challenges.
SafeWax is designed to protect various crops, demonstrating its effectiveness on key Mediterranean crops like grapevines, tomatoes, and wheat. This aligns with strategic European agricultural policies such as the Green Deal, aiming to support sustainable farming practices and reduce pesticide use. The potential impacts of SafeWax are substantial, offering economic relief by lowering the costs of managing crop diseases.
Beyond its economic and environmental benefits, SafeWax provides farmers with a viable alternative to traditional pesticides, promoting healthier ecosystems and safer food production while adapting to climate change. This project not only protects crops but also supports a shift towards more sustainable agriculture, marking a significant step forward in meeting global agricultural challenges.
During the first reporting period, efforts were made to optimize and refine the SafeWax formulation, focusing on using environmentally friendly solvents like ethyl acetate (EtAc) and testing its efficacy on a variety of substrates. Extensive studies identified stearic and palmitic acids as the best candidates for the product, and initial tests demonstrated that SafeWax could convert surfaces from hydrophobic to superhydrophobic behavior. The formulation has evolved from using diethyl ether (DEE) to EtAc as a solvent due to its lower toxicity and broader regulatory acceptance, which is beneficial for agricultural applications.
Efforts also included developing a solvent-free version using a technique of hot-spraying from a melt that resulted in uniform coverage and exhibited superhydrophobic behavior, now under consideration for a patent. Ongoing work focuses on finding solvents with high volatility but also sufficiently high flash points (>40°C) for water-based emulsion formulations. Coating reformulation is scheduled to be completed by M17. Additionally, the project has mapped out key fungal pathogens like Botrytis cinerea for targeted antifungal testing, with ongoing work to refine the coating formulation further and expand the antifungal efficacy studies. Methods and protocols for testing the antifungal properties of SafeWax coatings on falat model surfaces as well as on detached leaves using pepper plant as a model were established. Based on preliminary ecotoxicological evaluation of various SafeWax formulations Plant Protection Product (PPP) as a suggested choice in a regulation pathway is selected as most promising.
Efforts also included developing a solvent-free version using a technique of hot-spraying from a melt that resulted in uniform coverage and exhibited superhydrophobic behavior, now under consideration for a patent. Ongoing work focuses on finding solvents with high volatility but also sufficiently high flash points (>40°C) for water-based emulsion formulations. Coating reformulation is scheduled to be completed by M17. Additionally, the project has mapped out key fungal pathogens like Botrytis cinerea for targeted antifungal testing, with ongoing work to refine the coating formulation further and expand the antifungal efficacy studies. Methods and protocols for testing the antifungal properties of SafeWax coatings on falat model surfaces as well as on detached leaves using pepper plant as a model were established. Based on preliminary ecotoxicological evaluation of various SafeWax formulations Plant Protection Product (PPP) as a suggested choice in a regulation pathway is selected as most promising.
The SafeWax project has made notable progress in developing an environmentally friendly plant protection solution. Key activities included optimizing the SafeWax formulation, now using ethyl acetate (EtAc) due to its lower ecological impact, and assessing its efficacy on various substrates as well as model leaf surfaces and against key fungal pathogens like Botrytis cinerea.
Results:
- Enhanced Formulation: the switch to Ethyl acetate as a solvent offers a more sustainable formulation while at the same time maintaining high fatty acid concentrations crucial for effectiveness.
- Broad Applicability: successfully tested on diverse substrates, SafeWax showed potential for widespread application use beyond agricultural sector.
- Antifungal Efficacy: ongoing evaluations aim to refine SafeWax's antifungal properties for broader pathogen resistance.
Potential Impacts:
- Sustainability: development of SafeWax aligns with European strategies like the Green Deal, promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Innovative Crop Protection: SafeWax introduces advanced novel solvent-free formulations and application methods.
Needs for Success:
- Further Research and Scaling: more studies and field trials are needed to optimize and demonstrate the product’s effectiveness in real-world settings.
- Commercialization and Market Access: developing strategic partnerships and clear market strategies are crucial for successful commercialization.
- Regulatory Compliance and IPR Support: ensuring compliance with EU regulations and securing IP rights are essential for market acceptance and protection of the innovation.
Results:
- Enhanced Formulation: the switch to Ethyl acetate as a solvent offers a more sustainable formulation while at the same time maintaining high fatty acid concentrations crucial for effectiveness.
- Broad Applicability: successfully tested on diverse substrates, SafeWax showed potential for widespread application use beyond agricultural sector.
- Antifungal Efficacy: ongoing evaluations aim to refine SafeWax's antifungal properties for broader pathogen resistance.
Potential Impacts:
- Sustainability: development of SafeWax aligns with European strategies like the Green Deal, promoting sustainable agriculture.
- Innovative Crop Protection: SafeWax introduces advanced novel solvent-free formulations and application methods.
Needs for Success:
- Further Research and Scaling: more studies and field trials are needed to optimize and demonstrate the product’s effectiveness in real-world settings.
- Commercialization and Market Access: developing strategic partnerships and clear market strategies are crucial for successful commercialization.
- Regulatory Compliance and IPR Support: ensuring compliance with EU regulations and securing IP rights are essential for market acceptance and protection of the innovation.