An MSc thesis entitled "Sweet Distractions: Influence of Cover Crops and Artificial Sugar Provisioning on Ant-Mediated Biological Control and Ecosystem Services" was defended in the context of NextGenBioPest. Access the thesis presentation here: Access the full thesis here:

An MSc thesis entitled "Anagyrus spp. for the biological control of key mealybug pests" was defended in the context of NextGenBioPest. Access the thesis presentation here: Access the full thesis here:

On 24 September 2026, NextGenBioPest partner Smart Agro Hub (SAH) hosted a living lab during the Agri Innovation Expo 2026 at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA). The session gave visitors from the research community the opportunity to discover the project's approach and its application, and to discuss how it can support more sustainable pest management. Innovation in an open, collaborative setting Living labs bring researchers, innovators and end users together in a

On 15 September 2026, NextGenBioPest partner Inagro welcomed a delegation of policy makers to its site in Roeselare, Belgium. The visit gave regional authorities a first-hand introduction to the project and the results achieved so far. Connecting research and policy Sustainable crop protection is shaped not only by science and technology, but also by the regulatory and policy frameworks that determine which solutions can reach growers. Dialogue between researchers and decisio

On 14 September 2026, NextGenBioPest partner Inagro presented the project to growers, industry representatives and business partners during the "Proefveldbezoek vruchtgroenten" (fruiting vegetables trial field visit) in Roeselare, Belgium. The event combined a guided tour of the trial fields with a workshop on the project's approach to sustainable pest management. Science in the field Trial field visits give growers and industry a chance to see new approaches first-hand, ask

On September 3, 2026, SmartAgroHub (SAH) represented NextGenBioPest at the MultiSoil Networking meeting, an online event bringing together researchers and project partners from across the soil and agricultural research community. The meeting offered a valuable opportunity for NextGenBioPest to connect with several other relevant projects working on related themes, exchanging insights and perspectives on shared challenges in the field. Discussions focused on cross-cutting issu

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NextGenBioPest was represented at the XVII International Congress of Acarology (ICA 2026), held in Montpellier, France, from 20 to 24 July 2026. Our partner, the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), presented a poster on the use of a predatory mite as a biological control agent in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. A leading forum for the global acarology community The International Congress of Acarology brings together researchers from around t

On June 19th, 2026, our partner Smart Agro Hub represented NextGenBioPest at Beyond Expo 2026 — Greece's most prominent and widely attended technology and innovation expo — bringing the project's vision for next-generation sustainable pest management to one of the country's most dynamic and forward-looking public stages. Beyond Expo is a landmark event in Greece's innovation calendar, attracting thousands of visitors, entrepreneurs, startups, investors, policymakers, and tech

A PhD thesis entitled "Molecular mechanisms of juvenile hormone signaling in insect development" was defended in the context of NextGenBioPest. Access the full thesis here.

On June 22, 2026, Institut Agro Montpellier welcomed a group of high school students to the CBGP laboratory (Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations) for an in-person visit aimed at introducing them to the world of mite research. During the visit, students had the opportunity to explore ongoing scientific work on mites and learn how fundamental research translates into real-world applications. As part of the program, researchers presented the NextGenBioPest project

On 16 June 2026, the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), partner in the NextGenBioPest project, visited demonstration apple orchards in Avignon, France. The visit brought together project representatives, local farmers and French researchers for a day of field observation and open discussion on the practical use of companion plants in orchard pest management. Bringing research to the orchard Demonstration fields are where scientific ideas meet the rea

On June 12th, 2026, our partner Smart Agro Hub represented NextGenBioPest at EU-CONEXUS 2026 — a key European academic and research event bringing together universities, researchers, and innovators from across the EU-CONEXUS network of coastal and maritime universities. EU-CONEXUS is a European University Alliance uniting institutions committed to smart and sustainable coastal and maritime development, fostering cross-border collaboration in research, education, and innovatio

On May 26th, 2026, the Agricultural Cooperative of Tympaki took NextGenBioPest into the classroom, presenting the project to students at the Technical Professions High School of Moires in southern Crete — bringing cutting-edge European research on sustainable pest management directly to the next generation of agricultural professionals. The visit offered students a unique opportunity to discover how science and innovation are actively reshaping the way we approach crop protec

On May 21st, 2026, our partner MAGMA visited the Agricultural School of Messara in Crete, Greece, for an in-person presentation of the NextGenBioPest project — bringing the science of next-generation biopesticides and sustainable crop protection directly to students training to become the agricultural professionals of tomorrow. The Messara Valley is one of the most productive agricultural areas in Crete and the wider Mediterranean region, renowned for its olive groves, vineya

Two Horizon Europe projects unite to bridge soil health and next-generation pest management for more resilient, chemical-free farming systems NextGenBioPest and MultiSoil, two Horizon Europe-funded research projects working at the frontier of sustainable agriculture, are pleased to announce the establishment of a formal synergy to jointly advance the transition towards healthier, more biodiverse, and less chemical-dependent farming systems across Europe. About the Synergy Nex

Researchers from the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) took part in the 9th Molecular Insect Science Conference, held on April 27, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The team presented a poster titled "NextGenBioPest and REENFORCE: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Low-Risk Pest Management," showcasing the latest advances from both projects to an international audience of scientists and researchers. The poster highlighted how NextGenBioPest and REE

INSTAGRO created a podcast on mites and biological control hosted by radio Clapas. You can listen to it here.

On April 22nd, 2026, our partner Smart Agro Hub represented NextGenBioPest at InnovinAgri, an event dedicated to innovation in agriculture, held at the prestigious Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) — one of Greece's most prominent institutions in agricultural research and education. InnovinAgri brought together researchers, academics, industry professionals, and innovators to explore the latest advances shaping the future of sustainable agriculture, making it an ideal p

On May 12th, 2026, our partner Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra presented new research findings from NextGenBioPest at the International Scientific Days 2026 (ISD 2026) , held in Horný Smokovec, Slovakia — one of the key annual gatherings of the Central and Eastern European agricultural research community. ISD 2026 brought together scientists, academics, and researchers from across the region to exchange the latest findings in agricultural sciences, rural developme