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Interactions-focused Network-Trained Researchers For Tomorrow’s Unifying Research-Enterprise vision

Project Leader: Schuhmacher Rainer, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:: 01.12.2016-31.05.2021

Programme:: Horizon 2020 - Excellent Science - Marie S. Curie - Innovative Training Networks (ITN)

Project partners: AZOTIC TECHNOLOGIES LTD., Chorley Business & Technology Center Euxton Lane, PR7 6TE Chorley, United Kingdom.
Contact person: Jill Burton;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; BIOBEST BELGIUM NV, Ilse Velden 18, 2260 Westerlo, Belgium.
Contact person: Felix WACKERS;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; BIPA NV, Technologielaan 7, 1840 Londerzeel, Belgium.
Contact person: Ann VERMAETE;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Desarrollo Agricola y Minero SA, Avda. Independencia 21 3, 50001 Zaragoza, Austria.
Contact person: David BERNARD;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Fondazione Edmund Mach , Via Edmund Mach 1, 38010 San Michele All'Adige, Italy.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; INOQ GmbH, Solkau 2, 29465 Schnega, Germany.
Contact person: Carolin SCHNEIDER;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; Newcastle University, Kensington Terrace 6, NE1 7RU Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Contact person: Darren STOREY;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
Contact person: Antonio de CRISTOFARO;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; University of Nottingham, University Park, NG7 2RD Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Contact person: Rupert FRAY;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, 9, boulevard de la Paix, 51097 Reims, France.
Contact person: Essaid AIT BARKA;
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

Staff: Vlassi Anthi, Project Staff (bis 31.12.2021)

BOKU Research Units: Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics

Funded by: Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi, Brussels, European Union

Abstract: The Directive 2009/128/EC sets rules in EU for the sustainable use of pesticides to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on health and the environment. Among the listed actions, there is the promotion of low pesticide-input management including non-chemical methods. In parallel, several chemical active ingredients have been banned because of toxicity concerns. The result is that growers are left with few control tools against pests. On the other hand, most of the available alternative control methods have several limitations especially in terms of efficacy. Several new ideas are not reaching the industry and are confined in the academic world. Here we propose to explore new, non-classical and bio-based approaches to identify cutting-edge solutions for pest/pathogen control and fertilization, working in strict close collaboration with industrial partners. At the same time, we will train 10 highly skilled early stage researchers (ESR) through a doctoral programme that integrates cutting-edge academic research with concept-driven product development in EU companies. This project is directed at boosting the companies’ ability to innovate in the sector of microbial biosciences for agriculture, by integrating young researchers able to translate innovative concepts into development of novel products. The main innovative aspect in this EID is the shift towards a new strategy based on microbial interactions (with microbial communities, with plants, and insects) rather than using microorganisms directly as plant protection products. The recognition of the ability of microorganisms’ ability to profoundly transform their living habitat paves the way for unexplored outlooks in the ability to use microbial-plant and microbial-insects associations as sustainable and renewable biotech tools, to improve production and quality in agriculture.

Keywords: Analytical chemistry; Microbiology; Plant physiology; Plant protection;; biocontrol; volatile organic compounds; metabolomics; plant protection;