LIPOFABRIK: A ground-breaking biomolecular production platform for safer, more efficient and sustainable pest control and crop health management.

Project Information

LIPOFABRIK

Grant agreement ID: 808000

DOI

10.3030/808000

Project closed

EC signature date 31 January 2018

Start date 1 January 2018

End date 30 April 2018

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

LIPOFABRIK
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LIPOFABRIK (LIPOFABRIK: A ground-breaking biomolecular production platform for safer, more efficient and sustainable pest control and crop health management.)

Reporting period: 2018-01-01 to 2018-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The demand for the replacement of synthetic chemicals, for pest control, by biological solutions, with low toxicity for the environment and for human health, has increased in the last decade. In this scenario, we propose the use of lipopeptides and metabolites expressed by certain Bacillus subtilis strains. The advantages that those molecules offer for plant protection are known, however, their use is limited due to the capability to obtain bulk amounts of them. Our company holds patents for around lipopeptides and Bacillus metabolites. We have developed several products which have applications in plant protection market as antifungal, biostimulant and inducer of resistance. Currently we have set-up a bioprocess from our pilot line to obtain 50 kg/year products, we aim to scale-up the production to 90 tonnes/year It will allow us to satisfy the market demand and to offer these products at a competitive price.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have assessed the technical and commercial potential of our business idea and come with a realistic plan. The description of the technical activities have allowed us to identify all the services that we need to outsource, and the equipment that we have to buy. It has given us the information to estimate the investment needed and to plan how to get the capital we have to commit through capital share and funds of our company activities. Through the same industrial process we will obtain differents products with different applications, biostimulant and biopesticide. They will be distributed in EU and America by big companies from the seed to large cereal crop markets in the next 5 years. We feel confident with our plan to succeed with this business idea and have concluded that our product has the potential to be developed with the contribution of an additional funding.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Most of the agricultors in the world often depend on chemical based pesticides and fertilizers for bounty agricultural output. However, during recent years, there is a change in the attitude of people towards pesticides due to their toxicity and ecotoxicity. As a result of this, stringent laws and regulations have been imposed for the safe use of agrochemicals. Consequently, the agrochemical companies are diverted their attention on the development of new molecules of biological origen. In this context, lipopeptides and other Bacillus metabolites, with proven activity against plant pathogens, eco-friendly and safe for human health, have an evident potential impact to be used in the plant protection market.

Lipofabrik logo

Bacillus sp. strain used to produce lipopeptides

Pilot plant