- During this technical visit, a preliminary test was carried out to fine-tune the dosage of the fumigants and to set up the sensors.
- This trial, carried out in the facilities of the Tecnova Experimental Centre in Almeria, coincides with Europe Day.
- LIFE NextFUMIGREEN is a European project that aims to test the efficacy of a fumigant based on natural active ingredients to combat the most important pests of horticultural crops.
09/05/2023, Almeria. Today, 9 May, a preliminary trial has been carried out to fine-tune the dosage of the whitefly fumigants based on natural active ingredients that are being developed as part of the European LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project, at the Tecnova Experimental Centre in Almeria. The technical visit coincides with Europe Day, a key date for the European Commission’s LIFE Programme of which this project is 60% co-financed.
These trials, which are being carried out on a cucumber crop in two Tecnova greenhouses, give continuity to the project “Development of natural fumigants for the control of whitefly and botrytis in horticultural crops under glass”, financed by CDTI. The results of the fumigants obtained in this project are the basis of NextFUMIGREEN, which will validate their efficacy against whitefly and aims to be extended to other phytosystems to treat the most recurrent pests of greenhouse crops.
LIFE NextFUMIGREEN and the consortium
Following on from the first chamber trials, in this second phase, sensors installed by the company Brioagro have been incorporated to monitor the crop conditions during the application of the fumigants.
The project aims to validate that FumiHogar’s fumigant technology optimises the properties of natural biopesticides, maximising their efficacy and minimising risks for operators and the environment. As for Massó Agro and B&B asesores, they are collaborating in the definition of the product to align it with both the needs of farmers and the requirements of phytosanitary products. On the other hand, the participation of the Finnova Foundation, based in Belgium, is based on the alignment of the current and future guidelines set by this LIFE programme of the European Commission.
This project from the LIFE programme, which has been proposing environmental solutions for the improvement of biodiversity, nature, circular economy, climate change and transition to clean energy since 1992, is aligned with the Farm to Fork strategy and the EU’s SDGs, European Green Deal and sustainable use of biocides guidelines.
About Life NextFUMIGREEN
LIFE NextFUMIGREEN is a European project that seeks to develop natural fumigants from plant extracts to control whitefly populations and fungal outbreaks of botrytis in greenhouse horticultural crops. The project, led by FumiHogar and 60% funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme, will last four and a half years and will test the efficacy of a new fumigant biopesticide that is less toxic than conventional ones. With a total budget of €2,758,921.01, this project aims to improve food safety, biodiversity and contribute to the professionalisation of farmers in the use of biopesticides.
About FumiHogar
FumiHogar was founded in Malaga in 1967 by its founder Mr. Antonio Cintora Gil to provide a service to the incipient sector of DDD (Disinfection, Pest Control and Rodent Control) professionals, as an insecticide formulating company. Since then, FumiHogar has maintained the technology of manufacturing self-contained, pre-dosed fumigant canisters as its own hallmark, which very few companies in the world are capable of formulating with the appropriate quality guarantee. Nowadays, FumiHoagr produces fumigant canisters of insecticides, bactericides, fungicides, virucides, biostimulants and environmental improvers based on all kinds of molecules for biocidal control cases or active ingredients in premises or greenhouses.
About TECNOVA
The Tecnova Technology Centre is responsible for promoting applied innovation and technological development based on the knowledge acquired nationally and internationally, providing value and competitiveness to companies in the agricultural auxiliary industry sector and with the collaboration of all the agents involved in the process. It is present in 25 countries and its aim is innovation and technological development, the transfer of technology and knowledge in order to be more competitive through innovation.
About B&B Asesores Auditores Ambientales
BB Asesores has a team of multidisciplinary professionals (pharmacists, chemists, biologists and engineers) with practical experience in different industrial sectors. With more than 20 years in the market, they have specialised in processing and obtaining registrations and approvals in fields as diverse as medicines and medical devices, cosmetic products, biocidal products and chemical substances in general.
About Comercial Química Massó
Comercial Química Massó’s main activity is the distribution of speciality chemicals from recognised leading companies in different sectors, as well as products developed in-house and marketed under the company’s registered trademarks.
About BrioAgro Tech
BrioAgro was born in the countryside of Seville, thanks to the initiative of Mairena del Alcor (Seville): “Impúlsame”, which was set up as a company in February 2015. Following the plague of the red palm weevil, an insect that was destroying palm trees all over Spain a few years ago, they devised an initial prototype based on sensors that identified the presence of the insect by means of sound signals. Once the pest had been combated, they transferred and adapted this initial technology to what is now BrioAgro Technologies, a company that uses technology in the service of agriculture, sending the necessary information to help farmers make decisions. In this way, it contributes to increasing productivity and improving the environmental control of crops.
About Finnova Foundation
Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities for European projects is combined with a proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.