During the first 24 months of activity, the BIOBESticide project consistently advanced towards its goal!
Greencell successfully established the production tool and is currently adjusting the process parameters to optimize the growth conditions and prevent contamination incurrence, alongside assessing different biomass sources (in collaboration with Nordzucker) as valuable alternatives to maintain constant annual production volumes (10 tons targeted). At the same time, Lamberti defined the best formulative approaches for the P.oligandrum strain and is cooperating with Greencell and INRAE to assess the formulated samples produced over stability tests, evaluating strain viability under controlled environment to eventually fine tune the final product formulation for its use on field. In this regard, INRAE is refining the protocols and methodologies to validate biopesticide performances and improve the viability detection on sample assessed, providing feedback to Lamberti for formulation tuning. INRAE is also assessing the reduction of the size of necrosis caused by pathogenic fungi involved in GTDs as well as evaluating the impact of the P. oligandrum I-5180 on microbial communities through high-throughput sequencing. Results are currently being processed and will be presented at relevant international congresses. IFV actively monitored symptoms of GTDs in 6 field plots over 3 different wine producing areas, collecting data to conduct field efficacy trials as soon as the biopesticide will be available for field tests (planned in collaboration with Mercier). Results of preliminary efficacy assessment should be available for the first trimester of 2023. Eurion Consulting, responsible for the compliance of the commercialized BCA strain with European regulations and legislations, successfully submitted the approval dossier for the new BCA active ingredient at EU level, whose evaluation was initiated by the RMS (Rapporteur Member State and is now preparing the registration dossier for the formulated product, which will be submitted to the concerned European Ministries over France, Italy and Spain. Tecnalia has established the methodology and started collecting data for the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, selecting the most relevant environmental impact categories, economic indicators and social topics to be included in collaboration with project partners. Ciaotech has successfully finalized the exploitation strategy for the projects results expected to be produced over the project in collaboration with the whole consortium (especially with Greencell and Lamberti). Alongside, Ciaotech also identified the most relevant potential stakeholders for the BIOBESticide value chain and led a deep analysis of the market and competitors landscape composition with the purpose of boosting and ensuring successful final product market proposition and uptake. In addition, CiaoTech is also coordinating all the Dissemination and Communication actions performed by the whole consortium and is promoting BIOBESTicide in relevant events throughout Italy and Europe.