Project description DEENESFRITPL New MD method to increase agricultural productivity The global population growth means farmers worldwide need to increase crop production. However, pests remain a problem. EU scientists are moving away from current methods such as chemical insecticides and GM crops, which are unsustainable. The EU-funded PHERA project is developing a new effective, affordable and sustainable pest control method that uses insect sex pheromones to prevent pest reproduction by disrupting the insects’ ability to attract mating partners. The mating disruption (MD) method, which has been widely used for specialty crops, does not affect biodiversity, soil or groundwater. PHERA is developing the biological production of radically cheaper pheromones that will finally allow the application of MD for pest control in row crops. By 2027, PHERA plans to have created a new agtech business for MD solutions in row crop applications worth EUR 640 million and 300 new jobs. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Agricultural productivity needs to rise by 70% by 2050 to provide sufficient food for the growing population on a limited amount of land and water, while climate change and the onset of insect resistance makes pest control increasingly difficult. The current (overused) tools, chemical insecticides and GMO-crops, are not sustainable and most of the alternative biological solutions are not feasible for the large scale agriculture in row crops due to the high cost, complicated application methods, and inconsistent performance. Mating Disruption (MD) is an effective, affordable, and sustainable pest control method, which uses insect sex pheromones to prevent pest reproduction by disrupting their ability to attract mating partners. Mating Disruption is a scalable new solution for row crops, with 20-years of successful application in specialty crops. MD is a sustainable, non-toxic pest control method, which does not affect biodiversity, soil, or groundwater.The key objectives of PHERA are to demonstrate cost-efficient production of three bio-based pheromones at full industrial scale and to demonstrate pheromone effectiveness for pest control and for sustainable increase of agricultural productivity in the field. The cost of pheromones has been a key barrier to the wide adoption of MD in row crops. Biological production of radically cheaper pheromones is a disruptive technology that will allow the application of pheromones for pest control in row crops. PHERA will create a new value chain across biotech and ag-tech, and the consortium brings together all required expertise in biotech production and pheromone formulation and application. PHERA will create a new ag-tech business for MD solutions in row crop applications worth €640 million and 300 new jobs by 2027, and a long-term potential in excess of €2 billion. The new products developed in PHERA will have a substantial positive impact on the sustainability profile of large-scale row crop production. Fields of science social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivitynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturenatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Keywords insect sex pheromones mating disruption IPM for row crops fermentation Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI) Topic(s) BBI-2019-SO3-D4 - Demonstrate bio-based pesticides and/or biostimulant agents for sustainable increase in agricultural productivity Call for proposal H2020-BBI-JTI-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme IA - Innovation action Coordinator BIOPHERO APS Net EU contribution € 3 285 289,00 Address Lerso parkalle 42 4 2100 Copenhagen ø Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København 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 € 1 409 232,25 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all BIOPROCESS PILOT FACILITY BV Participation ended Netherlands Net EU contribution € 1 212 250,00 Address Alexander fleminglaan 1 2613 AX Delft See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland Activity type Other Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 1 250,00 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Germany Net EU contribution € 294 137,00 Address Hansastrasse 27c 80686 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 NOVAGRICA HELLAS ANONIMI EMPORIKI EXAGOGIKI KAI SYMVOULEFTIKI ETAIRIA BIOLOGIKON KAI CHIMIKON PROIONTON Greece Net EU contribution € 257 250,00 Address Gravias 10-12 10678 Athina 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 Αττική Aττική Κεντρικός Τομέας Αθηνών 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 € 110 251,01 RUSSELL IPM LTD United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 490 684,00 Address Third avenue unit 68 deeside industrial park deeside CH5 2LA Flintshire 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 Wales East Wales Flintshire and Wrexham Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 210 293,50 SEDQ HEALTHY CROPS SL Spain Net EU contribution € 397 556,00 Address Carrer llull 41, 08005 Barcelona 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 Este Cataluña Barcelona 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 € 176 631,50 ISCA Europe, SAS France Net EU contribution € 464 998,00 Address 27 rue de chatry 35260 San malo 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 Bretagne Bretagne Ille-et-Vilaine 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 € 200 535,75
