Bio-based alternatives for crop protection

The agricultural sector faces unprecedented pressures from population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. With the increasing demand for food and changing dietary patterns, ensuring food security while minimising the environmental impact of agricultural practices is a critical challenge. BioMitigate proposes the development of bio-based materials and chemicals with stimuli-responsive release of active ingredients comprising 1) biocontrol microorganisms and mineral particles, such as ferria and silica, to improve fungal and bacterial infection tolerance even under challenging hydromineral conditions (climate change), 2) in situ generated plant hormone-like substances for increased resilience against bacterial and fungal infections, 3) biopesticides in combination with mineral particles arresting the spreading of fungi and acting as repellents for herbivores, and 4) potent insecticides formulated to be released only in the guts of herbivorous insects not affecting the pollinators.