project - Research and innovation
Biostimulants and Biopesticides for Crop Production
Biostimulants and Biopesticides for Crop Production
Objectives
Crop production is dependent on manufactured fertilisers and pesticides/fungicides. Biocrop will explore the
possibility of utilising biobased products and innovations as viable alternatives while addressing sustainability
and the environmental impacts of these, such as GHG emissions.
Biocrop aims to produce new algal and fungal derived biopesticides and biostimulants while engaging with
industry and collaborators to test existing biofertilisers (algal and bacterial based) and biostimulants
(endophytes) for efficacy. The existing products will be compared to fossil fertiliser applications and ability to
control disease (focussed on aphid -borne disease and Ramularia Leaf Spot, RLS) in Barley in field trials.
Life-cycle analysis will deliver a system-level life cycle analysis of Biobased fertilisers and pesticides
considering impacts across the full life cycle to avoid ‘burden shifting’ from one environmental impact to
another. This analysis will assess the use of biobased products in an integrated management approach.
Furthermore, BioCrop will undertake economic modelling to assess the impact of these biobased fertilsers and
pesticides on production costs and the profitability for Irish growers.
Therefore, BioCrop will develop new and test existing biofertilsers and biopesticides for Barley production
providing alternatives for growers in the face of EU regulations on fertiliser use and the loss of plant protection
products.
Objectives
Crop production is dependent on manufactured fertilisers and pesticides/fungicides. Biocrop will explore the
possibility of utilising biobased products and innovations as viable alternatives while addressing sustainability
and the environmental impacts of these, such as GHG emissions.
Biocrop aims to produce new algal and fungal derived biopesticides and biostimulants while engaging with
industry and collaborators to test existing biofertilisers (algal and bacterial based) and biostimulants
(endophytes) for efficacy. The existing products will be compared to fossil fertiliser applications and ability to
control disease (focussed on aphid -borne disease and Ramularia Leaf Spot, RLS) in Barley in field trials.
Life-cycle analysis will deliver a system-level life cycle analysis of Biobased fertilisers and pesticides
considering impacts across the full life cycle to avoid ‘burden shifting’ from one environmental impact to
another. This analysis will assess the use of biobased products in an integrated management approach.
Furthermore, BioCrop will undertake economic modelling to assess the impact of these biobased fertilsers and
pesticides on production costs and the profitability for Irish growers.
Therefore, BioCrop will develop new and test existing biofertilsers and biopesticides for Barley production
providing alternatives for growers in the face of EU regulations on fertiliser use and the loss of plant protection
products.
Activities
BioCrop will develop and test new biopesticides and biostimulants tailored for spring and winter Barley
production to address if these biobased products can provide a sustainable alternative to fossil based
fertilisers and pesticides. The alternatives are endophyte, bacterial and algal based biostimulants that are
already near to, or on the market. These products will be assessed for efficacy. New fungal, algal and
endophyte biopesticides will be developed that are tailored to address current needs for Barley growers
including control of the aphid-borne disease such as BYDV and fungal disease particularly Ramularia Leaf
Spot (RLS). The impact of these on GHG production will be measured in the field. This information will be
used to conduct a life cycle assessment of the bio-based fertilisers and pesticides. Economic modelling will
assess the impact of these biostimulants and biopesticides on the production costs and profitability for
Irish growers.
Therefore, BioCrop seeks to assess innovative bio-based fertilisers and plant protection products to
increase the sustainability of Irish agriculture. The objectives are to:
• Identify and characterise novel fungal and algal based biopesticides (Task 2) and endophyte biostimulants
(Task 1 & 3) from sustainable sources.
• Characterise existing biofertilisers in comparison to current fertiliser application and plant protection
programmes in the field (Task 4).
• Assess the impact of these biostimulants on grain quality, disease, yield and GHG emissions (Task 4).
• Characterise existing endophytes in comparison to current plant protection products (for RLS and BYDV)
programmes in the field (Task 3).
• Perform a life cycle assessment of Biobased fertilisers and pesticides including their use in an integrated
management approach (Task 5).
• Assess the impact of these biobased fertilsers and pesticides on production costs and the profitability for
Irish growers using economic modelling (Task 6).
Activities
BioCrop will develop and test new biopesticides and biostimulants tailored for spring and winter Barley
production to address if these biobased products can provide a sustainable alternative to fossil based
fertilisers and pesticides. The alternatives are endophyte, bacterial and algal based biostimulants that are
already near to, or on the market. These products will be assessed for efficacy. New fungal, algal and
endophyte biopesticides will be developed that are tailored to address current needs for Barley growers
including control of the aphid-borne disease such as BYDV and fungal disease particularly Ramularia Leaf
Spot (RLS). The impact of these on GHG production will be measured in the field. This information will be
used to conduct a life cycle assessment of the bio-based fertilisers and pesticides. Economic modelling will
assess the impact of these biostimulants and biopesticides on the production costs and profitability for
Irish growers.
Therefore, BioCrop seeks to assess innovative bio-based fertilisers and plant protection products to
increase the sustainability of Irish agriculture. The objectives are to:
• Identify and characterise novel fungal and algal based biopesticides (Task 2) and endophyte biostimulants
(Task 1 & 3) from sustainable sources.
• Characterise existing biofertilisers in comparison to current fertiliser application and plant protection
programmes in the field (Task 4).
• Assess the impact of these biostimulants on grain quality, disease, yield and GHG emissions (Task 4).
• Characterise existing endophytes in comparison to current plant protection products (for RLS and BYDV)
programmes in the field (Task 3).
• Perform a life cycle assessment of Biobased fertilisers and pesticides including their use in an integrated
management approach (Task 5).
• Assess the impact of these biobased fertilsers and pesticides on production costs and the profitability for
Irish growers using economic modelling (Task 6).
Project details
- Main funding source
- Other public (national, regional) research funds
- Project acronym
- BioCrop
- Agricultural sectors
- Cereals
EUR 1,999,570.28
Total budget
Total contributions including EU funding.
Project keyword
Ressourcen
Contacts
Angela Feechan, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin
+353 1 716 7779
Project coordinator
-
University College Dublin
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Teagasc
Project partner
-
Trinity College Dublin
Project partner
-
National University of Ireland Galway
Project partner
-
Brandon Bioscience
Project partner
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e-SEED
Project partner