Project description DEENESFRITPL A natural way to protect against corn rootworms Western corn rootworm (WCR) is an invasive pest that poses a threat to European maize production. Unfortunately, there is no effective protection following the ban of the toxic neonicotinoids. This is why Austria’s LITHOS has developed and patented CornProtect – a biological and highly effective solution against the WCR. It is also natural, non-toxic, and harmless for all other organisms and the environment. The EU-funded CORNPROTECT project will promote the product’s commercial deployment by optimising the current formulation and registering it as an EU plant protection product. The next step will be to increase production and validate the product in the EU market. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The Western Corn Rootworm (WCR) is a pest that has turned into a major threat to Europe’s corn production. WCR hasspread to most of South East and Central Europe, affecting now 7 million hectares (37% of the European corn cultivation).With an average yield/hectare of €1,800 and damage potential between 20 and 80%, possible yield losses amount to€2,52-10,08 billion.After the ban of the highly toxic neonicotinoids within the EU, there is currently no effective protection against the WCR. Dueto a lack of other solutions, today some unspecific chemical pesticides are marketed and used against the WCR with verylimited effectiveness. To make it worse, these products are toxic and harmful for the environment and for beneficial insects(like bees).LITHOS has developed and patented CORNPROTECT, a biological and highly effective solution for protecting corn againstWCR. It works target specific due to the release of the specific pheromone of the WCR. As a natural solution it is absolutelynon-toxic and harmless for all other organisms and the environment. The specific combination of the pheromone and ahighly porous mineral (zeolite) as a carrier allows a slow release of the pheromone and mating disruption over the activeperiod of WCR adults. It’s also easy to use and affordable (costs to farmers are € 50/hectar, similar to conventionalsolutions). CORNPROTECT can be used in conventional and organic farming.The main objective for LITHOS in this phase 2 project is to bridge the remaining gap to commercial deployment byoptimizing the current formulation, registering CORNPROTECT as EU plant protection product, scaling up existingproduction, and validating the product in the EU market. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureagronomyplant protectionagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculturenatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEInst-2018-2020-2 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator LITHOS CROP PROTECT GMBH Net EU contribution € 1 345 085,88 Address Wirtschaftszeile ost 10 4482 Ennsdorf Austria See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Mostviertel-Eisenwurzen Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 576 465,37
