Objective The global objective of the Project is to increase the quality, reliability, safety, and end-user acceptance of environmentally benign crop growth inputs (Biological Food for Plants -BFPs) for intensive horticulture, thus contributing to the common agricul tural reform policy that promotes quality products and sustainable agriculture. BFPs are innovative soil or plant amendments derived from biological resources that contain one or more biologically active compounds that reinforce crop vigour. BFPs reduce th e need to employ mineral fertilisers, and also improve crop health, plant disease resistance, and soil micro-life, thus decreasing the dependency on chemical crop protection agents. Among organic and conventional crop producers, an urgent need exists to ac cess environmentally benign, safe, and effective inputs, and consumers also increasingly demand 'green' agricultural products with guaranteed quality and safety, and good traceability. The Project initiates integrated actions to meet the abovementioned ne eds and provide the required guarantees. First, the manufacturing processes ofBFPs (such as leather hydrolysis, natural extraction of seaweed and herbs, and chemical extraction of pine needles) are reviewed and, for each process, a quality management syste m is developed according to IS0-9001 guidelines. Quality management systems will be developed to permit systematic reduction of waste, to increase production efficiencies, and to ensure safe and homogenous BFP products of known consistency. These efforts c ontribute to one of the objectives of the EC, i. e. product transparency and traceability. Second, scientific research is carried out on BFP products for their exact chemical and biological composition (including pathogens and heavy metal content) and thei r effect on plant growth, plant health, and soil micro-life. Also a scientific assessment is made of the impact of BFPs on soil and groundwater. Furthermore, scientific research is carried out on the quality of the vegetables and fruits produced with and without BFPs. Possible pathogen loads and chemical contaminants are measured, as well as.. positive quality indicators such as storability, vitamin content, fIrmness, etc. The scientific results thus obtained are essential for the SMEs to obtain legislativ e permission to export their BFPs to other European countries. At present, no proper pan-European regulation (similar to the EC label) exists for BFPs or for comparable products, which seriously hinders international trade. By demonstrating that BFPs are indeed effective, safe, and environmentally benign, regulatory recognition of BFPs and thus their international marketing becomes realisable. For increased end-user acceptance, the practical end-use value of BFPs is tested in the Project under contrasting production situations, with important temperate and Mediterranean vegetables and fruits as reference crops. All information with either practical or scientific value will be transferred to the public during the lifetime of the Project through open days, de monstration days, press releases, etc. Research methods will be documented and, if possible, published for future use in efforts to obtain consistent regulations on BFPs throughout the EU. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protectionagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agricultureagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturevegetable growing Keywords ISO biological raw materials crop inputs food quality food safety sustainable agriculture Programme(s) FP6-SME - Horizontal research activities involving SMEs: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SME-1 - Co-operative Research (all areas of science and technology) Call for proposal FP6-2002-SME-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contracts Coordinator INSTITUTE OF POMOLOGY AND FLORICULTURE EU contribution No data Address Pomologiczna 18 SKIERNIEWICE Poland See on map Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all AGROBIO PRODUCTS B.V. Netherlands EU contribution No data Address REEBOKLAAN 16 WAGENINGEN See on map Total cost No data JOINT STOCK COMPAGNY " BIOLAT " Latvia EU contribution No data Address Rigas str. 111 SALASPILS See on map Total cost No data SZKÓLKA MARKIEWICZ AGNIESZKA MARKIEWICZ-JANUSZEWSKA Poland EU contribution No data Address Buszkowo 7a KORONOWO See on map Total cost No data CERESCO SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA LIMIDA Spain EU contribution No data Address POLIGONO INDUSTRIAL PARC.26Y27 MANZANARES See on map Total cost No data INDUSTRIA LAVORAZIONE SOTTOPRODOTTI ANIMALI Italy EU contribution No data Address VIA QUINTA STRADA 28 ARZIGNANO See on map Total cost No data GOSPODARSTWO ROLNO-OGRODNICZE SADPOL Poland EU contribution No data Address . WIERZBICA NEAR WARSAW See on map Total cost No data ISTITUTO SPERIMENTALE PER LA NUTRIZIONE DELLE PIANTE Italy EU contribution No data Address Via della Navicella, 2 ROMA See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITAET KASSEL Germany EU contribution No data Address Moenchebergstrasse 19 KASSEL See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITAS MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ Spain EU contribution No data Address Avenida del Ferrocarril s/n. ELCHE (ALICANTE) See on map Total cost No data