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Weed control in row crop farming through natural biocementation

Project description

Biotechnology to manage weeds

Farmers need tools to help them make weed control simpler and more efficient. Biotechnology is key. In this context, the aim of the EU-funded Dust BioSolutions project is the final product development and the industrial production scale-up of a new product for weed control based on a bio-geochemical process. It solidifies permeable materials through microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation. Dust BioSolutions will face the pressing problems of weed resistance, soil erosion and the increased adoption of integrated pest management practices by farmers. The aim is for the project’s non-chemical product to form a valuable addition to the farmers’ toolbox to control weeds and facilitate the adoption of pest management approaches.

Objective

Dust BioSolutions is a Munich-based start-up company that aims to become the “no.1 address for biological binders” worldwide. Its mission is to develop, produce, and sell products that solidify permeable materials to improve sustainability, profitability and innovation of established industries with the help of biotechnology. Dust BioSolutions has developed a proprietary technology platform and patented applications based on a bio-geochemical process called microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation. In 2016, Dust BioSolutions decided to expand its product range on weed prevention and management in the agriculture sector.

BioWeedControl, which comes either in a solid (powder) or in a liquid form has been successfully developed to a TRL6. Dust BioSolutions has collaboration agreements for final product development with different industry partners and currently more than 25 large scale field tests ongoing. Results show that BioWeedControl has comparable performance to most commonly used products, but can also leverage on additional functionalities.

Competition from weeds is one of the major factors reducing crop yield and farmers’ income. This issue is worsened by the growing number of weeds becoming herbicide-resistant. BioWeedControl wants to overcome many disadvantages of currently available products. Dust BioSolutions expects BioWeedControl to become one of the best alternative solutions to weed prevention in the agriculture sector.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

BIND-X GMBH
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
AM KLOPFERSPITZ 19
82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Germany

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Landkreis
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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