SAGROPIA: Revolutionizing plant protection through bio-based pesticides

The Horizon Europe project SAGROPIA was successfully launched with a three-day kick-off meeting in Vienna from January 22 to 24, marking the beginning of a promising five-year collaborative approach to research and innovation in sustainable crop protection. With a budget of €6 million, SAGROPIA comprises a consortium of 10 partners, and is led by Austria’s leading EU funding consultancy, RTDS Association.

SAGROPIA's scientific coordinator, Dr. Günter Brader, Senior Scientist/Bioresources from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, has the following to say about the project:

“In the SAGROPIA project, we will advance strategies of integrated pest management (IPM) for reducing the use of chemical pesticides in the cultivation of potato and sugar beet. Specifically, we aim to replace several so-called “candidates for substitution” (CfS) active substances, which are supposed to phase out because of their toxicological profiles but, due to lack of alternatives, are still commonly applied for crop protection. To replace them, we will test and bring forward promising candidates out of thirteen innovative, biological, and low-risk pesticides. Combined with IPM, this shall maintain high crop quality and secure yields in EU agriculture, while limiting harmful effects on the environment and human health.”

The EU Farm to Fork strategy prioritizes food security and safety, aiming to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides due to environmental and health concerns. EU institutions seek to replace identified CfS in EC Regulation No. 1107/2009, while maintaining high agricultural yields amidst climate change and pest risks. The agrifood industry is actively exploring alternative approaches and seeking innovative solutions to replace the identified CfS and address the complex issues surrounding pesticide use.

SAGROPIA aims to reduce chemical pesticide use by 50% in potato and sugar beet cultivation. Focusing on biocontrol methods for combating plant pests and diseases, it aligns with the objectives for sustainable farming systems and inclusive, healthy food systems. The project strives for climate-neutral, resilient farming, providing safe, and sustainable solutions while minimizing ecosystem pressure and promoting biodiversity. Additionally, it contributes to climate mitigation, supporting Sustainable Development Goals by fostering inclusive and healthy food systems.

The SAGROPIA consortium brings together leading research institutes and key agroindustry companies from 8 countries (7 EU and the USA). The objective of this collaboration is to develop and implement innovative and comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. These IPM strategies will be tested in participatory field trials with growers, and will be assessed for their environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This approach ensures a robust evaluation process, facilitating swift and reliable market entry and future uptake for the developed SAGROPIA plant protection solutions.

SAGROPIA’s innovative IPM strategies will yield effective pest control with improved environmental outcomes through:

● Substitution of the fungicides difenoconazole, fluopicolide and metalaxyl for protection against late and early blight in potato production and Cercospora leaf spot for sugar beet

● Substitution of oxamyl for nematode control in both crops

● Reduction of copper in late blight control by more than 50% and 50% reduction of pirimicarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, and esfenvalerate in control of aphids and soil borne insects.

As project coordinator, Dr. Stephen Webb from RTDS remarked, “We are proud to announce the Horizon Europe-funded SAGROPIA, it is the 7th project coordinated by RTDS since Horizon 2020, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to advancing research and innovation in harmony with the European Green Deal, alongside our esteemed consortium partners."

Specifically, the consortium is made up of:

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology , Austria

RTDS Association , Austria

Rovensa Next , Portugal

Amoeba Nature , France

Wageningen University and Research , Netherlands

Denmark Technical University, Denmark

Certis Biologicals , USA

Agroscope , Switzerland

Südzucker Group , Germany

VbZ , Germany

More Information on SAGROPIA: SAGROPIA Factsheet European Commission: CORDIS