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NATURAL BIO-MASS AND MICROBIAL BIO-CONTROL AGENT SOLUTIONS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CONTENTIOUS INPUTS IN ORGANIC FARMING

Project description

Sustainable innovations for organic farming

Organic farming faces challenges in replacing controversial inputs such as copper-based fungicides and synthetic antibiotics, which can harm the environment and human health. In this context, the EU-funded BIO2 project is developing sustainable alternatives that enhance crop protection and soil fertility. Specifically, it is creating fertilisers from marine byproducts, recycling nutrients, and encapsulating natural biocontrol agents to boost their effectiveness. It also pioneers microalgal fungicides and antiparasitic treatments from natural extracts. Scaling up production and involving farmers and stakeholders ensures these solutions are practical. By combining science with sustainability and circular economy principles, BIO2 aims to transform organic farming into a productive system. In turn, this reduces environmental impact while supporting farmers in the transition.

Objective

BIO2 aims to transform organic farming (OF) by replacing contentious inputs with sustainable alternatives through innovative R&D. The main innovations are: (i) combining marine materials (fish discards and seaweed byproducts), microorganisms, and recycled sewage nutrients to create fertilizers tailored for OF; (ii) encapsulating biocontrol agents (e.g. yeast and bacteria) in biogenic materials to enhance their efficacy in protecting crops from diseases; (iii) developing processes for manufacturing microalgal-based agricultural fungicides; and (iv) producing immunostimulants and bark extracts with antiparasitic properties.
To facilitate the integration of BIO2 solutions into OF and make them viable for farmers, we will scale up production processes and provide sufficient materials for testing in agronomic and animal trials from the project's early stages. The efficacy of these products will be studied and compared with contentious inputs, such as copper- and sulfur-based fungicides, mineral oils, manure from conventional farming, and synthetic antibiotics.
BIO2 will prioritize sustainability assessments and actively engage stakeholders (industries, the OF sector, farmers transitioning to OF, and consumers) to develop products that are both environmentally friendly and accepted by end users. Potential barriers, such as raw material quality and availability, product costs, farmers’ acceptance, and regulatory challenges, will be addressed by diversifying material sources and involving key actors. By leveraging advanced technologies and interdisciplinary collaboration, BIO2 will deliver tangible outcomes, including the industrial production of at least 1 biocontrol agent, 2 fertilizers, and 1 antiparasitic treatment.
Through its comprehensive approach, BIO2 not only addresses current limitations in OF but also contributes to broader sustainability goals by reducing environmental impacts and promoting a circular economy.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-02

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Coordinator

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Net EU contribution
€ 670 816,25
Address
PIAZZALE ALDO MORO 7
00185 Roma
Italy
Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 670 816,25

Participants (19)