Plant Protection and Future Challenges

plant protection

The problem the research needs to solve: The production of fruits and vegetables in Greece is threatened by serious pests and at the same time it is important to move towards ‘green’ plant protection.

Prospects for Addressing the Challenges: Innovative Plant Protection (Targeted research and Innovative actions)

ELGO-DIMITRA is one of the seven partners of the project “Ιnnovative solutions for the sustainable and environmentally friendly plant protection of fruit and vegetable crops in Greece, in the Europe of the future” and is implementing the necessary actions.

ELGO-DIMITRA is involved with 5 of its institutes (Institute of Olive, Subtropical Crops & Viticulture, Institute of Industrial & Forage Crops, Institute of Plant Breeding & Genetic Resources, Institute of Agriculture Economics Research, and Institute of Soil & Water Resources) and 13 researchers who cover a wide range of plant protection topics. The research team is also supported by many young researchers who are being trained in modern plant protection issues.

Overall, the project will contribute to:

  1. The development of innovations that will solve serious problems in agricultural production in Greece, by increasing the effectiveness of plant protection, enhancing the competitiveness of Greek fruits and vegetables (quantitative and qualitative improvement, product safety, and consumer trust), and reducing plant protection products.
  2. The development of modern approaches to determine the optimal intervention time (when), the appropriate (bio)plant protection products (with what), and the method of application (how).
  3. Strengthening research and innovation in plant protection and the competitiveness of Greek research institutions, by producing new knowledge, improving the know-how and infrastructure of the institutions, connecting researchers for high-level research with an impact on the production sector, and training young scientists in cutting-edge topics.

The project is led by the Agricultural University of Athens (Coordinator: Professor Ioannis Vontas). For more information, contact Dr. Ioannis Margaritopoulos (johnmargaritopoulos@elgo.gr) or visit the project’s website (https://www.kainotomosfytoprostasia.gr).

Social Media Pages:

https://x.com/KFytoprostasia

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552763132611

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kainotomos-fytoprostasia-b7b934298/

Technical Information:

Project Acronym: InnoPP

Code: TAEDR-0535675

Duration: 30 months (May 15, 2023 – October 31, 2025)

Project Budget: 4,915,000.00 € (700,000.00 € for ELGO-DIMITRA)

Beneficiaries:

Agricultural University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Democritus University of Thrace, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, Foundation for Research and Technology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute

Implementing Agency:

General Secretariat for Research and Innovation

 

For information on the generated results, visit the project’s website https://www.kainotomosfytoprostasia.gr (estimated publication date of ELGO-DIMITRA results: 1/12/2024). The project results will be available for free to all businesses.