H2020 BIOVEXO Project: Biocontrol of Xylella and its vector in olive trees for integrated pest management
- Type Project
- Status Firmado
- Execution 2020 -2025
- Assigned Budget 6.612.227,48 €
- Scope Europeo
- Main source of financing H2020
- Project website BIOVEXO
Mediterranean olive and almond trees are threatened by the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella and its transmitter, the spittlebug. New biopesticides are needed to combat this bacterial threat, reduce the impact of chemical pesticides, and achieve sustainable olive and almond crops. The EU-funded BIOVEXO project will develop innovative biopesticides that reduce chemical pesticide application and provide greater plant protection.
The biopesticides will be tested on a large-scale pilot scale for evaluation under real-life conditions in two major European regions infested with Xylella: Apulia (Italy) and Mallorca (Spain). The biopesticides will be tested using a combined and integrated approach in traditional and newly planted olive groves in both areas, as well as in almond orchards in Mallorca.
BIOVEXO demonstrates a suite of novel and innovative biopesticides targeting the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella and its vector, the spittlebug, to combat a disease that seriously threatens olive and almond production in the European Mediterranean region. BIOVEXO biopesticides will reduce the use of chemical insecticides and sustainably increase and secure olive cultivation in Europe in its valuable socio-economic context. The biopesticides will be tested for use in curative and preventive approaches. We present six promising candidate biocontrol solutions acting against Xylella or its vector, including two bacterial strains, a microbial metabolite, two plant extracts, and an entomopathogenic fungus.
Following small-scale field validation and improved formulation, BIOVEXO will scale up production of the improved performing biopesticides (minimum two targeting Xylella and two targeting vectors) to a full-scale pilot for real-world evaluation in two major Xylella outbreak regions in Europe (Apulia, Italy, and Mallorca, Spain) representing distinct pedoclimatic conditions. BIOVEXO biopesticides will then be demonstrated in a combined, integrated (IPM) approach in traditional and newly planted olive orchards in the two areas. Further testing is being conducted in almond orchards in mainland Spain and Mallorca.
The BIOVEXO consortium, comprised of academia, large industry, SMEs, and associations, brings complementary expertise along the entire value chain, including practical knowledge and hands-on experience from participating olive growers and farmers' associations. BIOVEXO will provide a mechanistic understanding of the biopesticides' mode of action to support final product development and will ensure environmental and economic sustainability by conducting LCAs and risk, toxicity, and pathogenicity analyses. A comprehensive regulatory compliance assessment will prepare BIOVEXO biopesticides for smooth market entry after the project.
- RTDS - VEREIN ZUR FORDERUNG DER KOMMUNIKATION UND VERMITTLUNG VON FORSCHUNG, TECHNOLOGIE UND INNOVATION (RTDS VEREIN, ENGL. RTDS ASSOCIATION) (RTDS Association (RTDS))
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