BIOFUN Operational Group: Functional biodiversity without viruses in protected crops
- Type Operational group
- Status In progress
- Execution 2023 -2025
- Assigned Budget 295.565,00 €
- Scope Autonómico
- Autonomous community Andalucía
- Project website GO BIOFUN
The expected results of this project are:
- List of functional plants that are useful for pest control in protected crops and that are not a reservoir of viruses that pose a risk to crops.
- List of functional plants useful for pest control in protected crops but which are reservoirs of viruses that pose a risk to crops. Identification of the viruses and the affected crops
- List of plants that are not useful for pest control in sheltered crops and that are not a reservoir of viruses that pose a risk to crops.
- List of plants that are not useful for pest control in protected crops and are also reservoirs of viruses that pose a risk to crops. Identification of the viruses and affected crops.
- Recommendations for the implementation and management of functional plants of interest.
- List of host plants for the main viral diseases developing in sheltered crops in southeastern Spain.
The expected impacts of this innovative project on the sector are: i) the promotion of the restoration of flora and fauna in protected agrosystems and the recovery of biodiversity lost in the area of intensive agriculture; ii) the protection of the environment in this agricultural setting by promoting a strategy of biological control through conservation that will result in a reduction in the use of pesticides and other phytosanitary products; and iii) the improvement of the agricultural system, and therefore its economic potential and profitability.
- Gather the information needed to start the project.
- Bibliographic review.
- Define actions and work protocols.
- Selection of functional biodiversity in research and commercial greenhouses.
- Identification/characterization of pests and Biological Control Organisms in auxiliary plants.
- Effect of biodiversity islands on pest populations in the main crop.
- Effect of biodiversity islands on viruses present in the main crop and islands.
- Study of transmission between horticultural crops and auxiliary plants.
The overall objective of this project is to combine the promotion of biological control through conservation within greenhouses with an increase in functional flora and fauna biodiversity that does not pose a risk for the development of diseases, primarily viral, in horticultural crops.
- Name of coordinator/entity: Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations of Almería, COEXPHAL
- Postal address: AVENUE OF THE CANTINAS, 2. 04746. LA MOJONERA (ALMERÍA)
- Coordinator/entity email: victoria@coexphal.es
- Telephone: 687696989
The project proposes a conservation biological control strategy, underdeveloped and underexplored in protected horticultural crops, that can contribute to incorporating another tool into integrated pest management guidelines for these crops. Appropriate habitat management, incorporating species in biodiversity islands within greenhouses that are useful for pest control in protected crops and that do not serve as reservoirs for viruses that pose a risk to crops, can contribute to a reduced need for phytosanitary products in a climate change scenario where an increase in pest incidence is expected.
Furthermore, it can contribute to a greater knowledge about the ecosystem services provided by biodiversity in agroecosystems (Focus area 4A). The environmental effects are very striking and diverse, since they include the increase in the CO2 absorption capacity of agricultural systems, reducing greenhouse gases (Focus area 5E, 5D), the recovery of useful insect populations, the creation of ecological corridor zones through biodiversity islands (Focus area 4A).
The project's approach leads to a more environmentally friendly management of the agricultural system, improving soil biodiversity, its richness and fertility, lower water consumption, greater water retention capacity, lower risk of erosion (Focus Areas 4A, 4C, 5A) and being more friendly to the professionals who will have to carry out their activities.
Furthermore, it helps improve the economic performance of all farms and facilitate their restructuring and modernization, particularly with a view to increasing their market share and orientation by adapting to consumer demands for sustainable and environmentally friendly food production (Focus Areas 2A, 1B, 4A). The formation of this operational group consortium will strengthen the ties between agriculture and research (Focus Area 1B), clearly contributing to innovation (Focus Area 1A) and the learning and training of farmers and technicians.
- ASOCIACIÓN DE ORGANIZACIONES DE PRODUCTORES DE FRUTAS Y HORTALIZAS DE ALMERÍA, COEXPHAL
- COEXPHAL (victoria@coexphal.es)
- FUNDACIÓN GRUPO CAJAMAR (corpusperez@fundacioncajamar.com)
- COPROHNIJAR (eperez@coprohnijar.net)
- VICASOL (jcurrea@vicasol.com)
- ASOCIACIÓN DE ORGANIZACIONES DE PRODUCTORES DE FRUTAS Y HORTALIZAS DE ALMERÍA, COEXPHAL
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