Nurspray Biostimulants - Protecting agriculture against climate stress with breakthrough sustainable crop treatment

Project Information

NURSPRAY

Grant agreement ID: 953636

DOI

10.3030/953636

Project closed

EC signature date 24 April 2020

Start date 1 May 2020

End date 31 December 2022

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 2 761 812,50

EU contribution

€ 1 933 268,75

Coordinated by

FYTEKO
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NURSPRAY (Nurspray Biostimulants - Protecting agriculture against climate stress with breakthrough sustainable crop treatment)

Reporting period: 2021-10-01 to 2022-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Fyteko is an agritech SME developing breakthrough innovations in sustainable crop treatment. It creates scalable non-toxic solutions to boost food security and help farmers adapt to climate stress. Based on best available evidence, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says falls in agricultural productivity of up to 30 per cent could be expected during the 21st century (water availability decreases, droughts are becoming more sudden, pest and disease incidences will change, crops in some regions will reach their limits of temperature tolerance). Crop stress is expected to become one of the most significant challenges for the world’s farmers as climate change increases.

Fyteko believes bio-based products can contribute to agricultural resilience and agility, by providing farmers with the means to reduce their reliance on GHG-emitting inputs and practices, whilst helping them adapt to producing crops in a warmer and less predictable climate. Fyteko also aligns itself with the growing consensus that agrochemicals market (€5B) will change, towards a lower-input, sustainable model that delivers on dual fronts: productivity and environmental performance.

Fyteko has invented and patented biostimulants based on Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative Oligomers (a novel signal molecule). This signal molecule ‘primes’ the plant against abiotic stress – drought or extremes of temperature. Applied as either a foliar spray (NURSPRAY®) or a seed treatment (NURSEED®), the biomolecule is widely compatible with active ingredients commonly used in crop protection and seed treatment products. Even in the absence of extreme stress, Fyteko’s biomolecule demonstrated yield increases. These Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative Oligomers are a new generation of advanced crop biostimulants, based on a single active ingredient and an identified mode of action, they can increase and optimise crop yields worldwide.

NURSPRAY EIC Accelerator project objectives were to:
(i) Finalize the development of biostimulant products based on Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative Oligomers (NURSPRAY® and NURSEED®).
(ii) Conduct large-scale field trials in different countries and crops to complete the needed data for European registrations and business developement.
(iii) Prepare market take-up of this novel technology.

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

Although project’s execution was highly impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Fyteko’s team achieved major results:
- New formulations (NURSPRAY®HC and NURSEED®HC) have been developed to match CE requirements.
- Production of Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative Oligomers and final product formulations have been upscaled and industrialised.
- Large field trials programs were performed in southern and northern hemisphere (2020-2022). Results show real field performance and high robustness for biostimulants products (±80% positive results over different pedoclimatic situation and agricultural systems).
- Regulatory approval using national framework (mutual recognition process) was performed in most important countries whilst waiting for the possibility to register under Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 (post project completion).
- Over 30 new industrial companies have signed evaluation agreements and are actively testing the products.
- Based on positive evaluations, 6 distribution agreements have been signed with major agrochemical distributors and seed treatments companies for market introduction.
- External communication has been updated and Fyteko was present in more than 20 international events during project duration.

Throughout the Nurspray project, Fyteko is successfully moving from start-up to scale-up stage.

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)

Progresses made beyond state of the art were numerous during the project. Fyteko is the only company currently working to develop Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivative Oligomers as specific biostimulants. Fyteko’s research accumulated results on these new molecules and aim to publish data in peer review journals in the coming year.

As commercialisation of NUSPRAY® and NURSEED® products are currently starting, Fyteko will continue R&D and build a standout portfolio – entirely biobased – of relevance to the world’s major crop-producing regions.

Fyteko's Lab