NextGenBioPest at Researcher's Night 2026!

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' Night is a Europe-wide initiative that opens the doors of science to the general public. Held every year in cities across the continent, it gives citizens the opportunity to meet researchers, discover what they work on and see how science contributes to everyday life. In Heraklion, the event brings together local research institutions, universities and members of the community in an informal, welcoming atmosphere.

For NextGenBioPest, it offered something that scientific conferences cannot: direct contact with a new audience made up of families, students, curious residents and people who may have never heard of biopesticides.

Two Projects, One Message

The poster presented the work of NextGenBioPest alongside its sister project REENFORCE, both of which aim to promote sustainable and low-risk approaches to pest management. Presenting them together offered visitors a broader picture of how European research is tackling the challenge of reducing dependence on conventional chemical pesticides, through biological control, innovative biopesticides, green chemicals and digital tools.

Behind the scientific details, the message to the public was simple and relevant to everyone: the food we eat and the environment we live in both depend on how we protect our crops, and researchers across Europe are developing smarter, safer ways to do it.

Why Public Engagement Matters

Public understanding and support are important enablers for the adoption of sustainable pest management. Citizens are consumers, voters and neighbours of farming communities, and their perception of biopesticides and other alternatives can influence markets and policy. Taking part in an event like Researchers' Night helps to build trust, explain complex science in accessible terms and show that research is working for the benefit of society.

The event was also a natural fit for FORTH, which is based in Heraklion and leads NextGenBioPest, allowing the project's coordinator to share its work with the local community in Crete, a region where agriculture is a central part of the economy and daily life.