The European project SAGROPIA is dedicated to transforming plant protection in European agriculture by introducing 13 biological and low-risk pesticides, positioned as substitutes for key «candidates of substitution» (CfS).
Specifically targeting potato and sugar-beet crops, the project aims to seamlessly integrate these innovative solutions into comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
The overarching objective is to achieve a significant 50% reduction in the reliance on chemical pesticides, underscoring a strong commitment to sustainability and the mitigation of adverse effects on natural resources, people, and the environment.
SAGROPIA’s pioneering approach not only addresses immediate concerns but also holds the potential for broader positive impacts on agricultural practices, setting a model for sustainable and environmentally friendly pest control methods.
Objectives of the project:
- Confirm the efficacy of SAGROPIA solutions in replacing chemical pesticides against the target pests.
- Supply affordable biopesticides with known modes of action in market-relevant amounts
- Develop and validate alternative SAGROPIA IPM strategies adapted to typical pest-disease complexes in key European regions.
- Test and exhibit the newly developed IPM strategies in large-scale field trials under realistic conditions, in agricultural practice.
- Assess the overall sustainability (environmental, socioeconomic) of alternative IPM strategies.
The project, which started in January 2024, is for a duration of 60 months within the framework of the European programme Horizon Europe, with a consortium of 10 partners from 7 European countries and the USA.
