Project description
Efficiency in pesticide application with minimal environmental impact
The agricultural industry has a key need to protect fields and crops from a variety of pests and diseases. Failure to do so can be disastrous, as yields can be partially or wholly devastated, and farmers and industries can suffer massive losses in profits or even face bankruptcy. Current pesticide spraying technologies are split into two categories, with key trade-offs: coarse droplets, which reduce pesticide drift but are less efficient, and fine droplets, which provide efficient crop coverage but can increase drift. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the OPTAIN project will develop a next-generation patentable prototype air-induction nozzle that will achieve higher pesticide application efficiency while minimising environmental drift.
Objective
Current spraying technologies face a trade-off between fine droplets required for effective crop coverage and coarse droplets that reduce drift but lower efficacy. This proposal aims to overcome this limitation by developing a next-generation patentable prototype air-induction nozzle (AIN) through enhanced air inclusion that optimizes pesticide application efficiency by 20% beyond available commercial nozzles while significantly minimizing environmental drift. This optimization will be achieved via a structured work plan integrating theoretical and cutting-edge experimental fluid mechanics diagnostics, such as high-speed flow visualization, shadography, and Schlieren, to quantify and enhance entrained air retention in both the nozzle and spray droplets zones. Systematic parametric studies of nozzle geometry, fluid properties, and operating conditions will be performed to deliver a validated predictive model for influential parameters. Additionally, an in-depth fluid mechanics-derived study on the working mechanism of AIN will deliver insight into the instability of air-filled droplets and the impact of the venturi on nozzle air intake. The project aligns closely with the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy goals to reduce pesticide risk by 50% by 2030 and supports the EU’s strategic priorities for climate-neutral, resource-efficient farming. The fellow will receive targeted training on core scientific and transferable skills, including open science practices, intellectual property management, and interdisciplinary communication, ensuring compliance with MSCA and Horizon Europe frameworks. The training will have a strong emphasis on career development to elevate the fellow's scientific career for a tenure-track position. This multidisciplinary project offers high societal and industrial impact while enhancing the fellow’s career through international collaboration and technology transfer.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
46022 Valencia
Spain
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.