CROPSAFE

Crop Protection Strategies for the Transition to Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture

Project details

Type of project
Research & Innovation Action
Project focus
Crop protection & fertilisation
Feedstock origin
Agri-food waste
Aquatic
Forestry waste
Other and new
Feedstock type
Food industry sidestreams
Industrial waste streams
Lignin & wood residues
Micro/macro algae
Project period
1 June 2025 - 31 May 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 4 893 904,00
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately 40% of food crops are lost worldwide each year due to plant pests and diseases.  The use of chemical pesticides, while effective, worsens environmental issues such as soil biodiversity loss, bioaccumulation in non-target organisms, and contamination of water and soil. As many of these chemicals are now classified as substances of very high concern and are being withdrawn, farmers are left without viable alternatives.

In response to this, the CROPSAFE project is developing innovative, bio-based solutions as alternatives to conventional pesticides. The project focuses on addressing severe pest pressures on three key food crops—potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas—by using renewable bio-based waste, including aquatic biomass, coffee grounds, and forestry residues to create bioactive compounds and delivery systems for effective pest management.

By collaborating with biorefineries and conducting field trials, CROPSAFE aims to optimise these solutions, reducing reliance on harmful pesticides while also enhancing environmental sustainability and providing cost-effective alternatives for diverse farming environments.

  • Develop and test innovative processes to obtain safe and sustainable bio-based crop protection alternatives, with a target of up to 100 kg by month 30.
  • Increase the availability of cost-efficient, widely accessible bio-based solutions for the prevention and (bio)control of plant pests, improving environmental performance.
  • Minimise the impact of pesticides on human and animal health, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, drinking water, soils, and the food chain.
  • Reduce reliance on hazardous plant protection products by favouring low-risk solutions to sustain crop productivity and food security.  
  • Implement a participatory approach that fosters cooperation among farmers and bio-based industries in Europe.
  • Prepare bio-based alternatives for market readiness while ensuring compliance with EU regulations and improving accessibility to sustainable crop protection solutions.
     

  • Expand access to cost-effective pest control by using sustainably- sourced biomass, with a target of 35,200 tonnes of products by 2038, benefiting farmers and biorefineries.
  • Boost yields by up to 20% and help farmers cut costs, increasing net income by up to €1,285 per hectare.
  • Improve biomass conversion technologies to eliminate toxic substances and achieve an 85% increase in biomass efficiency.
  • Replace harmful pesticides, including fosthiazate, metham sodium, and lambda-cyhalothrin, with safer, lower CO2 footprint alternatives.
  • Reduce environmental impact by lowering operating temperatures and eliminating metal catalysts, potentially achieving a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Transform by-products and sidestreams from bio-based processes, working towards zero-waste biorefining.
    Increase social acceptance of sustainable and circular bio-based applications.
  • Reduce pesticide use on two million hectares of farmland and improve forestry by using by-products such as bark, lignin and coffee oils, thereby minimising reliance on fossil resources.
  • Enrich soil by increasing organic matter, improving structure, and reducing pollution using natural compounds for healthier crops and ecosystems.
     

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Alicante, Spain

Consortium

  • VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. Mol, Belgium
  • Grupo Regional de Cooperativas Plataneras del Archipielago Canario Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain
  • BORREGAARD AS Sarpsborg, Norway
  • ALGINOR ASA Haugesund, Norway
  • THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE Dundee, United Kingdom
  • CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED LBG Redcar Cleveland, United Kingdom
  • ICONIQ INNOVATION LTD Market Harborough Leicestershire, United Kingdom
  • CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE Roma, Italy
  • KAFFE BUENO APS Rodovre, Denmark
  • ALGINOR BIOREFINERY AS Haugesund, Norway
  • ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION Terrassa, Spain
  • SOILESSENTIALS LIMITED Brechin, United Kingdom
  • INSTITUT QUIMIC DE SARRIA Barcelona, Spain
Partners
  • MoreThanDigital International GmbH Baar, Switzerland