Development of soil type adapted microbiological products promoting ecological pest management

Farmlands are exposed to dangerous xenobiotics because of the regular use of distinct pesticides. Even if present in small concentrations, they are dangerous as all have the tendency of progressive accumulation in the food chain.
Two approaches are frequently used worldwide to lower the exposition of plant cultivation fields to pollution by xenobiotics: organic farming and Ecological Pest Management (EPM). In the EU, EPM approach was originally defined by Directive 91/414/EEC, replaced by regulation 1107/2009; while regulation (EC) 834/2007 covers production and labelling of organic products. EPM is an approach based on the use of multiple tactics in a compatible manner to maintain pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury while providing protection from hazards to humans/animals/plants/the environment. EPM involves the application of non-chemical, alternative processes and methods, including host resistance and biological control. For conventional farms EPM can reduce human and environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals and potentially lower the overall costs. Design of sustainable EPM based strategies and the assessment of their relevance remains a major priority for the 21st-century agriculture.
The project PLANTSVITA will develop two innovative microbial products for upgrading arable soil quality and establish the PLANTSVITA Hungary-Serbia Border Region Centre for promoting sustainable agricultural measures and catalysing cooperation between R&D actors and SMEs in the agro-food field, thus enhancing the regional competitiveness.
The project's main objectives contribute to the Programme-level Specific Objective in the following ways:
Joint research and knowledge-transfer activities in domain of environment-friendly technology for enhancing cooperation and innovation activities.
Creation of a new and innovative product and technology intended for restoration/protection of the soil quality, and for promoting ecological pest management.
Cooperation, knowledge-transfer and dissemination activities contributing to the raising awareness and innovative capacities of the local end-users and economy actors, particularly of SMEs involved in agriculture, about the environment-friendly and sustainable agriculture production.
Enhanced visibility of the region’s capacities, making them attractive for participation in larger RD programmes.
New green technologies which will increase the competitiveness of agro-food SMEs and create new job opportunities for qualified young people. This will be a significant contribution to the competitiveness of the regional R+D actors and economy actors in the enlarged EU.