Abstract Aphis gossypii Glover is a highly polyphagous pest causing significant economic losses worldwide. In Greece, while the species is a primary threat to various crops, comprehensive molecular data regarding its insecticide resistance status remain scarce. This study, the first time in Greece, developed and implemented droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect and quantify the frequency of key resistance mutations (R81T, S431F, A302S, L1014F/M918L, and A2666V – resistance to

Abstract Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is a major global pest whose control is challenged by widespread insecticide resistance. This study assessed the resistance status of M. persicae populations collected in Greece (2021–2025), using diagnostic bioassays with insecticides (acetamiprid, flupyradifurone, flonicamid, sulfoxaflor and FliPPER) and a newly developed, highly sensitive droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) panel targeting seven key resistance mutations (vgsc

Abstract Volatility, the propensity to dissipate from solid or liquid state to the air, is an important property of certain pesticides and small molecules mediating chemical communication. Volatility is the function of a compound's vapor pressure, which depends on intra- and intermolecular forces given by the chemical structure. The sesquiterpenoid juvenile hormones (JHs), vital to insect development and reproduction, have been known for vapor-borne activity in vivo. The same

On September 29th, 2026, our partner Smart Agro Hub (SAH) represented NextGenBioPest at an online partnership meeting organised by COEER, bringing the project into dialogue with other relevant initiatives and research communities. The Value of Partnership Meetings Horizon Europe projects rarely work in isolation. Many of them address overlapping challenges, serve the same user communities and generate results that can be strengthened when shared. Partnership meetings give pro

On October 4th, 2026, our partner Inagro took part in Belgium's Open Company Day in Roeselare, using the occasion to present NextGenBioPest to the general public. The event gave citizens the chance to visit the organisation, see its work first-hand and learn how research is contributing to more sustainable agriculture. A Day for Discovering What Happens Behind the Scenes Open Company Day is a Belgian initiative in which companies and organisations open their doors to visitors

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 October 3rd, 2026, our partner Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (Fraunhofer IME) opened its doors to school children for a special open day. The in-person event gave young visitors the chance to discover what research looks like from the inside and to learn about the kind of science that stands behind sustainable crop protection. A First Look at Life in a Research Institute For most children, the work of a research institute is hard to picture

On September 25th, 2026, our coordinator, the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), took part in Researchers' Night 2026 in Heraklion, Greece. FORTH presented the poster "NextGenBioPest and REENFORCE: Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Low-Risk Pest Management" to a public audience of citizens and members of the research community. More information: https://www.forth.gr/en/news/show/&tid=3251 An Evening Dedicated to Research and Society Researchers' Ni

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 10th, 2026, NextGenBioPest was presented to the shareholders of the Agricultural Union of Tympaki (AST) in Crete, Greece, during the union's Annual General Meeting. The presentation introduced the project to the farming community and shared the early stages of its field application, helping to communicate the project further among the people who are expected to benefit from its results. Speaking Directly to Growers Tympaki lies in the Messara plain, one of the mo

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

From June 29th to July 3rd, 2026, the XIII European Congress of Entomology took place at the Centre de Congrès Vinci in Tours, France. Our partner MAGMA attended the congress to present NextGenBioPest to the international entomology community, sharing the project's concept and objectives with fellow researchers and distributing project pamphlets to attendees. Congress website: https://www.ece2026.org/ Europe's Major Gathering of Entomologists The European Congress of Entomolo

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