INBIOSOIL · Innovative biological products for soil pest control

INBIOSOIL is a timely project that proposes novel eco-efficient environmentally friendly technologies substantially contributing to the reduced input of conventional chemical pesticides for the control of subterranean crop pests of global economic importance. This would be accomplished through the generation of new formulations of biological control agents (BCAs) based on entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes within integrated pest management strategies. The strategies exploit synergies between BCAs which result in higher pest mortality. The proposed strategies: (1) contribute to reduced pesticide inputs in sustainable agricultural-horticultural systems, (2) offer potential savings for growers, (3) promote biodiversity and (4) offer solutions for both organic and conventional growers, thus ensuring the competitiveness of European growers. INBIOSOIL also includes risk assessment studies which should accelerate registration of new BCA products. The goals will be accomplished through 5 complementary work packages carried out by 15 European partners. The experienced, multidisciplinary team includes researchers from academia and SMEs. The project meets the challenges of globalization, climate change, and new plant protection policies leading to the production of high-quality and safer crops; it is in accordance with the scope of the Eco-Innovation call FP7-ENV-2011-3.1.9.-1. INBIOSOIL contributes to implementation of EC regulation 1107/2009 and Directive 2009/128/EC which make it obligatory for EU Member States to implement principles of IPM with priority being given to non-chemical methods of integrated pest management. INBIOSOIL addresses direct and indirect impacts, as well as primary and secondary effects, and clearly demonstrates a substantial improvement of the sustainability performance of BCAs along the entire life cycle of the proposed solutions and considers rebound effects with respect to currently available state-of-the-art technologies or solutions.