The brand-new Horizon Europe project AGRO4AGRI kicked off on 28th – 29th May in Paterna, Valencia (Spain). The meeting launched a momentous first contact among all partners, where they showcased their technical backgrounds and outlined their anticipated contributions to the project. FI Group was there presenting the Work Package it leads on Communication and Dissemination.
Funded with 5.3 M€ from the European Commission, the initiative will seek to provide ground-breaking and SSbD solutions for plant nutrition and protection aiming to reduce the use of agrochemicals in agriculture and minimise their negative environmental impact.
The project consortium is formed by 12 high-profile European and non-European beneficiaries and associated partners from 7 different countries. AGRO4AGRI is coordinated by AINIA (ES), a specialised technology centre with more than 35 years of experience in R&D&I in the agri-food sector, and counts on the participation of the Technological Centre CTC (ES), the University of Southern Denmark – SDU (DK), the Technical University of Denmark – DTU (DK), Fundación Grupo Cajamar (ES), Research Centre Hoogstraten (BE), SIPCAM OXON (IT), Institute for Advanced Studies Vienna – IHS (AT), Syspro (ES), Mirat Fertilizantes (ES), FI Group (PT and ES) as well as Optimat (UK) as an associated partner.
Once again, we are approaching an excellent group of researchers and technologists, not only to support them in the dissemination and magnification of the results obtained during the project execution, but also to diversify and internalize knowledge, and thus increase our competence in innovation and sustainability consulting, the most recent business unit of FI Portugal.
Additionally, we are always excited to work on bold and disruptive projects, which should contribute to the differentiation of the European primary economy, leveraged on a safe and sustainable design approach.
Bruna Fonseca, International Grants Manager at FI Group Portugal
By the implementation of nano and biobased controlled delivery systems for fertilisers combined with plant biostimulants plant nutrient use efficiency will be enhanced. On the other hand, the development of target-specific biopesticides based on RNAi technology will avoid the use of chemicals that result toxic and bioaccumulative for humans or non-targeted organisms. AGRO4AGRI aims to deliver agrochemical solutions that will be biodegradable in the environment and safe for farmers, reducing at the same time the amount of inputs needed for crop productivity.
In this context, the scientific achievements of this European project will have enormous societal impacts, simultaneously addressing the top environmental challenges of current agricultural practices in Europe, the overuse of fertilizing and biocontrol products and their ecotoxicity, by the development and demonstration of safe, sustainable and cost-effective agrochemical alternatives.
AGRO4AGRI R&D and validation stages predict cutting the use of nutrient elements in agriculture by more than 40% and pesticides by more than 50% to be aligned with the current policies and initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), The farm to Fork Strategy and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal.
Consequently, this project aims to significantly influence EU policies and strategies by addressing soil contamination and degradation, reducing water consumption, improving the efficiency of agrochemicals, minimizing water body pollution, promoting the shift to sustainable food systems, and ultimately strengthening the EU’s industrial competitiveness and leadership in the sustainable agro-food sector. This will be achieved through the commercialization of innovative solutions, driven by the growing focus on sustainable agriculture and the use of safe inputs in both EU and global markets.
FI Group has 20 years of experience and wants to accompany you on the new NextGenerationEU path. Our experts are at your disposal to analyse how your project fits into the NextGenerationEU European recovery fund and to take the next steps together with you. Contact us.
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