As a first step for good management, MET and G.R. GAMBERINI signed the Consortium Agreement and the contracts with all the subcontractors involved to assure all tasks were completed correctly and on time. In order for the project to be easily identifiable online we worked on a new website dedicated to OXIR and connected to MET and G.R. GAMBERINI websites. The www.oxir.eu website was created including different sections describing: the phase 2 project, “how it all began” with the phase 1 experience we gained from the flagship experimental tests, the work packages section containing brief reports on the experimental sites experiences, a news section, a “become a dealer” and a contact section. The mobile prototype design and assembly was realized with the implementation of different steps: a) systems design which comprises components selection and optimizations of the chosen components taken from long-time reliable suppliers or directly produced by G.R. Gamberini and MET workshops. b) prototype assembly with in-house tests and validation. c) pilot field testing
The experimental field activity of the OXIR project was organized by the Agri2000 Net Test Center, Castel Maggiore, Bologna, and agronomist Bucchi Renzo, Director of the Experimental Center, who guaranteed the experimental quality of the activities. The experimental tests were located on the national territory in Italy at the agricultural production areas that are among the most suitable and relevant for both production and the parasites presence. Similarly, we operated in Morocco, Spain and the USA where we are working on the realization of a part of the activity. In those areas we will always have the supervision of the agronomist Bucchi on the quality of produced data while working in collaboration with national certified Research Centers. The diseases found in the tests are indigenous diseases that farmers find naturally on their farm. Tests have been carried out in line with the Good Experimental Practices that are adopted throughout Europe and according to the indications in the EPPO guidelines regarding the execution of the experimental test and the collection and processing of field data. All test data are collected and stored in copy in the server of the Agri 2000 Test Center. OXIR gives good results in terms of pest control on treated crops: ozone is not phytotoxic to the plant at the rate used, and it will be very useful to replace some conventional products as well as to be used side by side with some others in pest control strategy. All the results in the field tests are remarkably interesting. Over the project, the mobile prototypes for the distribution of ozonated water has been continuously improved to reach a final version of OXIR mobile sprayer. With the help of subcontractor USMAC we reached a full view on the US and global market landscape and elaborated a pitch to be presented in front of a jury of investors potentially interested in the technology. Unfortunately, Covid-19 pandemic has not allowed the presentation of the OXIR technology in the US, while all the possible mitigation measures has been taken, including on-line actions (webinar, email, social media, press releases, and so on) and a trip to Democratic Republic of Georgia. In order to approach the market in a correct way, the project also included an IPR strategy containing a patentability study for the mobile solution and the patent deposit, plus a Freedom to Operate evaluation covering the whole period of the project. Dissemination actions have been strong, especially on-line, as travel was not possible, meanwhile all the results and milestones where achieved.
