BBI2019.SO3.D4 – Demonstrate bio-based pesticides and/or biostimulant agents for sustainable increase in agricultural productivity
Background
This is a topic in the 2019 work programme of the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking which was launched in April 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals to this call is September 4th 2019, with the results expected by the end of the year and projects expected to start in 2020.Celignis is an SME that was spun-out from an EU research project (the FP7 advanced biofuels project DIBANET) that was written and coordinated by Celignis's founder Daniel Hayes. It has now been five years since the end of that project and over that time Celignis has grown in size and reputation and now occupies a valuable niche as being the premier analytical provider to clients in the biomass sector. We provide a wide range of compositional analysis services and bioprocessing expertise to a diverse array of customers (including SMEs, multinationals, and universities) looking to utilise biomass feedstocks, residues and wastes for the production of biobased products, biofuels, and energy.
But we have not lost sight of the importance of science and in advancing the start of the art. We were born from pioneering research and we are still passionately committed to playing our part in advancing the bioeconomy. As a result we continue to be highly active in European research projects and are particularly excited by the calls presented in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Celignis is a partner in 2 ongoing BBI projects, BIOrescue and UNRAVEL. These are RIA (Research and Innovation Action) projects. Click here to read more about our involvements in these BBI projects. Celignis is also a partner in an Innovation Action (i.e. Demonstration scale) BBI project that is currently in the Grant Agreement stage and is expected to start in September 2019. In addition to these BBI projects, Celignis is also a partner in the Horizon 2020 Coordinating and Supporting Action project ENABLING. As we are a spin-out company from an EU research project we are well-versed in the preparation of proposals and in the implementation of projects.
Below we present a summary of this topic and indicate how Celignis could be a valuable project partner. Click here to see more details on our relevant expertise as well as summaries of how we can contribute to the other topics in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Contributions Celignis can Make to BBI2019.SO3.D4
- Metabolic properties analysis - For microbial-based biopesticides and biostimulants we can do metabolic properties analysis of microbes and root-exudate analysis for sugars, amines, sugar alcohols, and other bioactive compounds.
- Screening selected microbes - For bioactives and biostimulants production.
- In-vitro biostumulant characterisation
- Separation and purification of the desired compounds
- Amino acids analysis - We currently offer a number of analysis packages that help to determine the amino acid composition of biomass and seaweed and within this project we can develop additional analytical protocols for speciality amino acids (e.g. betaines).
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO3.D4
Use of synthetic, fossil-based pesticides in the agriculture sector is under pressure. Consumer and environmental considerations have resulted in an increasing number of regulations limiting their applications. Moreover, increasing resistance to pesticides by various pests and diseases limits their commercial life-span. As a result, availability of efficient chemical solutions to certain agricultural pests is dwindling. These developments are threatening current and future agricultural production levels.Bio-based solutions such as bio-based pesticides have the potential to decrease inputs of synthetic pesticides in the agricultural sector, while providing high yields in terms of pests’ control. However, having a higher selectivity than currently used pesticides, they would require the combination of different solutions in integrated pest management approaches to obtain the total desired results. Also, extensive testing needs to prove they meet all requirements regarding risks, toxicity and pathogenicity. These factors have been holding back a wide use so far.
On the other hand, one of the biggest challenges of agriculture is to guarantee high crop yields and productivity, while matching increasingly stringent environmental regulations dealing with the agricultural sector. Moreover, the increasing world population and the related increased demand for sustainable food production systems are boosting the expansion of agricultural practices also in currently un- or under-exploited lands. Thus, the optimal use of such new arable lands calls for environmentally friendly products for plant health enhancement, such as biostimulants able to foster plant growth without ‘overloading’ the environment with potentially harmful chemical inputs.
The specific challenge is to apply sustainable solutions for effective pest control and/or biostimulation enabling a sustainable increase of agricultural productivity.
Scope of BBI2019.SO3.D4
Demonstrate effective production and application of bio-based pesticides and/or biostimulant agents to maintain and increase agricultural productivity.Proposals may address both bio-based pesticides and biostimulants and in so doing can show complementarity and synergy between the two in an integrated approach.
In case proposals address only biostimulants, proposals should target products based on bioactives extracted/derived from bio-based feedstock.
This topic includes any bio-based feedstock, provided it can be sourced in a way that is sustainable both from an environmental and an economic perspective.
Proposals that target actives/molecules from bio-based feedstock should include:
(i) the sourcing and chemical characterisation of the base feedstock;
(ii) the separation and purification of the desired compounds;
(iii) the optimal and safe production of the standardised final products.
Proposals should include an experimental validation stage, assessing the effect of the developed products or microorganisms on the targeted crop(s). Proposals should also compare the effects of the developed products when applied to the same crop and to the relevant soil types and growing conditions. In this test work, the performance of the products or microorganisms developed should be demonstrated, in terms of, for example, their tolerance to abiotic stress, their water uptake, nutrient assimilation and overall crop quality of the crop (in the case of biostimulants), and/or resistance to pests and diseases (in the case of bio-based pesticides).
Proposals should provide evidence of the test results. Proposals should address all requirements for IA - demonstration actions as shown in Table 3 in the Introduction.
The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 6-7. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.