Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BioBIVE (BIOdegradable delivery systems for plant pathogens control of horticultural crops through BIo-actiVE agents)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-06-01 bis 2025-11-30
The BioBIVE Consortium, comprising 16 universities, research centers, SMEs, and enterprises from six European countries, is aimed to achieve, as main objective: “the development of bio-based systems to allow the release of natural bioactive agents able to control plant pathogens of horticultural crops helping to decrease the use of chemical pesticides”. Thus, BioBIVE project proposes an innovative solution based on the development of bio-based and bioactive delivery systems to control the plant pathogens of different horticultural crops decreasing fossil-based materials and pesticide use, minimizing the environmental footprint.
The project targets three main bio-based delivery platforms (biodegradable plastic mulch, biochar, and sprayable mulch) and three bio-active agents (basic substances, microorganisms, and marine phenolic compounds). These systems will be tested in various European economically relevant crops (carrots, strawberries, tomatoes) under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions to improve the crop yield and health, resulting in innovative, sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural solutions.
The project targets three main bio-based delivery platforms (biodegradable plastic mulch, biochar, and sprayable mulch) and three bio-active agents (basic substances, microorganisms, and marine phenolic compounds). These systems will be tested in various European economically relevant crops (carrots, strawberries, tomatoes) under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions to improve the crop yield and health, resulting in innovative, sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural solutions.
The following is a brief description of the work performed in each technical work package (WP) during the project period:
WP1 (Bioactive agents): The goal of WP1 is the selection of bioactive agents from three different categories (basic substances, biocontrol microorganisms, phlorotannin-rich extracts) and the study of their potential to be used as antagonists or retardants of the deterioration caused by several plant pathogens infecting significant crops grown in the EU: carrots, strawberries or tomatoes.
- T1.1 Selection of fungal pathogens and culture conditions
- T1.2 Effect and analysis of basic substances
- T1.3 Selection and characterization of antagonistic microorganisms
- T1.4 Seaweed phlorotannin extraction and pathogen inhibition evaluation
- T1.5 Up-scaled supply of bioactive agents
WP2 (Development of delivery systems and optimization): The goal of WP2 is the development and optimization of three functionalized bio-based systems based on previously available products (mulch film, biochar), which ease their further commercialization, and a new trending one (sprayable mulch films), suitable to carry and release those bioactive agents selected in WP1. Advanced formulation strategies via micro/nanoencapsulation technologies will be applied to protect the bioactive agents during the systems production processes and, additionally, control their field release kinetics. These are disruptive solutions within sustainable agriculture.
- T2.1 Bioactive agent micro/nanoencapsulation
- T2.2 Biodegradable mulching film development and functionalization
- T2.3 Sprayable mulch bioactive formulation and their upgrade
- T2.4 Biochar production including pre- and post- treatment
- T2.5 Formulations support
- T2.6 Synergistic combinations of platforms
WP3 (Testing and Validation of the development platforms): Aimed to complete the funnel strategy of functionalized systems selection, the goal of WP3 is to prove the integration of the selected bioactive agents (WP1) in the delivery systems (WP2) and their viability under controlled lab-scale and small-scale conditions prior to the full-scale field tests (WP4).
- T3.1 Lab scale validation of best formulations
- T3.2 Short cycle tests under greenhouse small-scale conditions
- T3.3 Full-cycle trials under greenhouse small-scale conditions
- T3.4 Correlations between formulation and performance at small-scale
WP4 ( Field Trials): This section is fuelled by the previous three WPs,and it is focused on the experimental validation of the best functionalized systems. To achieve their objectives, field trials on commercially productive farms will be set up simultaneously in three different countries (Italy, Norway, Spain) and applied over the different BioBIVE
- T4.1 Field trials to evaluate biochar-based and mulching films
- T4.2 Formulations and performance correlations at field scale
WP5 (Social, Economic and Environmental impacts): The main objective is to generate insights and information about the activities throughout the project to make sure that the project delivers meaningful and significant economic, social and environmental effects and that the project outputs are of high relevance for relevant stakeholders.
- T5.1 Market analysis and regulatory framework assessment
- T5.2 Environmental impact assessment: LCA and safety analysis
- T5.3 Multi-stakeholder engagement
- T5.4 Socio-economic impact assessment
WP6 (Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation): This WP oversees the proper Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of results, to ensure that project beneficiaries protect, exploit, disseminate and provide access to those results in accordance with Horizon Europe guidelines and regulations.
- T6.1 Project identity set up
- T6.2 Intellectual Property management
- T6.3 Communication Plan
- T6.4 Dissemination program
- T6.5 Business cases and Exploitation of results
- T6.6 Public list of HLD and HSP parameters of ingredients
WP7 (Coordination and Management): The governance of the project will be carried out throughout the BioBIVE development by means of the Coordinator and Partners collaboration, which is the core objetive of the section.
- T7.1 Project coordination, management & administration
- T7.2 Project Quality assurance, Risk assessment
- T7.3 Project Data Management
WP1 (Bioactive agents): The goal of WP1 is the selection of bioactive agents from three different categories (basic substances, biocontrol microorganisms, phlorotannin-rich extracts) and the study of their potential to be used as antagonists or retardants of the deterioration caused by several plant pathogens infecting significant crops grown in the EU: carrots, strawberries or tomatoes.
- T1.1 Selection of fungal pathogens and culture conditions
- T1.2 Effect and analysis of basic substances
- T1.3 Selection and characterization of antagonistic microorganisms
- T1.4 Seaweed phlorotannin extraction and pathogen inhibition evaluation
- T1.5 Up-scaled supply of bioactive agents
WP2 (Development of delivery systems and optimization): The goal of WP2 is the development and optimization of three functionalized bio-based systems based on previously available products (mulch film, biochar), which ease their further commercialization, and a new trending one (sprayable mulch films), suitable to carry and release those bioactive agents selected in WP1. Advanced formulation strategies via micro/nanoencapsulation technologies will be applied to protect the bioactive agents during the systems production processes and, additionally, control their field release kinetics. These are disruptive solutions within sustainable agriculture.
- T2.1 Bioactive agent micro/nanoencapsulation
- T2.2 Biodegradable mulching film development and functionalization
- T2.3 Sprayable mulch bioactive formulation and their upgrade
- T2.4 Biochar production including pre- and post- treatment
- T2.5 Formulations support
- T2.6 Synergistic combinations of platforms
WP3 (Testing and Validation of the development platforms): Aimed to complete the funnel strategy of functionalized systems selection, the goal of WP3 is to prove the integration of the selected bioactive agents (WP1) in the delivery systems (WP2) and their viability under controlled lab-scale and small-scale conditions prior to the full-scale field tests (WP4).
- T3.1 Lab scale validation of best formulations
- T3.2 Short cycle tests under greenhouse small-scale conditions
- T3.3 Full-cycle trials under greenhouse small-scale conditions
- T3.4 Correlations between formulation and performance at small-scale
WP4 ( Field Trials): This section is fuelled by the previous three WPs,and it is focused on the experimental validation of the best functionalized systems. To achieve their objectives, field trials on commercially productive farms will be set up simultaneously in three different countries (Italy, Norway, Spain) and applied over the different BioBIVE
- T4.1 Field trials to evaluate biochar-based and mulching films
- T4.2 Formulations and performance correlations at field scale
WP5 (Social, Economic and Environmental impacts): The main objective is to generate insights and information about the activities throughout the project to make sure that the project delivers meaningful and significant economic, social and environmental effects and that the project outputs are of high relevance for relevant stakeholders.
- T5.1 Market analysis and regulatory framework assessment
- T5.2 Environmental impact assessment: LCA and safety analysis
- T5.3 Multi-stakeholder engagement
- T5.4 Socio-economic impact assessment
WP6 (Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation): This WP oversees the proper Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation of results, to ensure that project beneficiaries protect, exploit, disseminate and provide access to those results in accordance with Horizon Europe guidelines and regulations.
- T6.1 Project identity set up
- T6.2 Intellectual Property management
- T6.3 Communication Plan
- T6.4 Dissemination program
- T6.5 Business cases and Exploitation of results
- T6.6 Public list of HLD and HSP parameters of ingredients
WP7 (Coordination and Management): The governance of the project will be carried out throughout the BioBIVE development by means of the Coordinator and Partners collaboration, which is the core objetive of the section.
- T7.1 Project coordination, management & administration
- T7.2 Project Quality assurance, Risk assessment
- T7.3 Project Data Management
1. Microbial Antagonists. ONGOING: Select and validate antagonists against fungal pathogens in European crops.
2. Seaweed Extracts. ONGOING: Prepare and assess antifungal properties of phlorotannin-rich seaweed extracts.
3. Basic Substances. ONGOING: Validate antifungal basic substances for targeted crops.
4. Encapsulation Techniques. ONGOING: Develop advanced nano/micro-encapsulation methods for controlled release of bioactive substances.
5. Sprayable Solutions. ONGOING: Create solutions with bioactive compounds to form protective mulch films.
6. Biodegradable Mulch. ONGOING: Develop mulch materials with bioactive agents for end-of-life use.
7. Biochar. ONGOING: Utilize biochar as a delivery system for bioactive agents.
8. Production Scaling. ONGOING: Scale up production of mulch films, biodegradable mulch, and biochar.
9. Biocidal Efficacy. ONGOING: Evaluate the effectiveness of bio-based agents across various conditions in greenhouse and field trials.
2. Seaweed Extracts. ONGOING: Prepare and assess antifungal properties of phlorotannin-rich seaweed extracts.
3. Basic Substances. ONGOING: Validate antifungal basic substances for targeted crops.
4. Encapsulation Techniques. ONGOING: Develop advanced nano/micro-encapsulation methods for controlled release of bioactive substances.
5. Sprayable Solutions. ONGOING: Create solutions with bioactive compounds to form protective mulch films.
6. Biodegradable Mulch. ONGOING: Develop mulch materials with bioactive agents for end-of-life use.
7. Biochar. ONGOING: Utilize biochar as a delivery system for bioactive agents.
8. Production Scaling. ONGOING: Scale up production of mulch films, biodegradable mulch, and biochar.
9. Biocidal Efficacy. ONGOING: Evaluate the effectiveness of bio-based agents across various conditions in greenhouse and field trials.