The Horizon EU project, NextGenBioPest, is pleased to announce its partnership with IPMorama, another Horizon Europe-funded initiative dedicated to transforming the EU’s food production system. This partnership combines NextGenBioPest’s cutting-edge pest control innovations with IPMorama’s sustainable crop management approach, laying the foundation for a resilient agricultural future across Europe. Together, these projects will drive impactful changes by reducing chemical pesticide dependency, expanding organic farming, and boosting crop yields through sustainable practices.
Running from September 2024 to August 2028, IPMorama is committed to creating a sustainable “practice ecosystem” that promotes the breeding and adoption of crop varieties specifically designed for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPMorama’s focus on key crops—wheat, potatoes, and grain legumes such as soybeans, white lupin, and peas—aligns closely with NextGenBioPest’s objective of reducing pesticide use by delivering novel solutions, such as RNA-based pesticides, Biological Control Agents, and Low-Risk chemical options, tailored for Europe’s fruit and vegetable sectors.
A Powerful Alliance for Environmentally Friendly Pest Management
This partnership represents a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture, combining advanced crop varieties bred for pest resistance with NextGenBioPest’s innovative pest and pathogen control tools. Through this collaborative effort, European farmers will have access to a comprehensive toolkit that enables effective pest management while safeguarding biodiversity and soil health.
Joint activities planned under this collaboration include:
Developing Crop Varieties for Enhanced Pest Resistance: IPMorama’s breeding programs will target crop resilience to key diseases and pests in wheat, potatoes, and grain legumes. These IPM-compatible varieties will be tested alongside NextGenBioPest’s Biological Control Agents and other pest management innovations to create a robust, field-ready solution.
Integrated Diagnostics and Pest Control Tools: NextGenBioPest’s diagnostic tools for precise pest and pathogen identification will complement IPMorama’s practice ecosystem, allowing farmers to monitor pest populations accurately and respond proactively with the right combination of IPM techniques and NextGenBioPest solutions.
Educational Programs and Farmer Support: Both projects will collaborate on training modules to promote awareness and adoption of IPM-compatible crop varieties and sustainable pest management methods. This will empower farmers to make data-informed decisions, reduce pesticide use, and protect crop quality while enhancing organic farming practices.
Evaluating Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts: By pooling resources, NextGenBioPest and IPMorama will evaluate the combined impact of these solutions on crop yields, ecosystem health, and the broader social and economic landscape. This analysis will drive improvements in both projects’ outputs to ensure the highest levels of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance.
Advancing a Greener Future for European Agriculture
The NextGenBioPest-IPMorama partnership exemplifies the EU’s dedication to a sustainable and resilient food production system. By integrating cutting-edge pest control innovations with crop varieties bred for pest resilience, this collaboration represents a comprehensive, eco-friendly solution to some of the EU’s most pressing agricultural challenges. Together, NextGenBioPest and IPMorama are empowering European farmers to adopt safer, more sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact, preserve natural ecosystems, and contribute to a vibrant agricultural economy.