MycoProScale – Creating global markets with a unique large-scale Mycorrhiza production method

Project Information

MycoProScale

Grant agreement ID: 880551

DOI

10.3030/880551

Project closed

EC signature date 9 December 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 30 September 2023

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 3 422 125,00

EU contribution

€ 2 387 612,50

Coordinated by

EVOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MycoProScale (MycoProScale – Creating global markets with a unique large-scale Mycorrhiza production method)

Reporting period: 2021-01-01 to 2023-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Feeding the ever-growing global population more sustainably is one of the main challenges for current and future generations. Yield increases by conventional means (fertilizer) have come to a maximum. Scientific studies show that conventional agricultural methods won't be able to fulfill the food demand of future generations. Biostimulants have the potential to close this yield gap and to secure the food supply in a sustainable manner. Arbuscular Endomycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) is one of the most promising biostimulants currently available on the market. In over 170 field trials AMF has increased yields by 16% on average. However, existing AMF spore production methods are unable to deliver high quality products at an economically feasible price point hindering the adoption of AMF in commercial food production. Evologic is going to change this. Evologic has developed a novel bioreactor design, allowing the production of high-quality AMF spores at disruptively low cost. This novel large-scale production process for AMF allows an unprecedented pricing strategy for AMF-coated crop seeds. These coated seeds will permit AMF usage at an economically attractive cost-benefit ratio for the farmer. Thereby, Evologic’s process innovation and the correlated biostimulant product (AMF) provides farmers with a veritably sustainable and economically feasible alternative to excessive fertilizer usage. The MycoProScale project is a fundamental part of Evologic’s development path towards being a European leader in the field of AMF production for agricultural applications. By the end of MycoProScale, Evologic will be producing AMF at a 30 000 times larger scale than the currently described state-of-the-art for AMF production.

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

The first year of the project was focussed on finding work arounds for the limitations imposed by the worldwide crisis triggered by Corona. The crisis delayed parts of the project and made some adaptations in the workplan necessary.
Summarizing Evologic managed to find, and consequently relocate to a suitable site for setting up the necessary production capacity for completion of the project and is currently finalizing the scale up of the production process to commercial scale.

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)

The MycoProScale project provides farmers with innovative, sustainable, fungal-based biological products as alternative solutions for agrochemicals, reducing EU’s use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Thus, helping transition to a fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly food system, while also preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.

Evologic Technologies established an industrial production site for a biological product in agriculture in the heart of Europe.

The need for biologicals in Agriculture is still pronounced based on the goals set in the European Green Deal.
A solid data basis to optimize the process to reach the COG targets for commercialization of an economically feasible AMF product was laid within the project.
Summarizing we are positive that AMF produced by the technology scaled up within this project will provide a positive impact on Europes land use efficiency and add to a more sustainable agricultural industry in Europe.

Evologic's Team in front of the industrial production site for Biologicals for Agriculture