The European Union (EU) has awarded €4.9 million to a new project aimed at transforming pest control in agriculture with eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides.
The project, CROPSAFE (Crop Protection Strategies for the Transition to Environmentally-Friendly Agriculture), is led by Norwegian biorefinery company Borregaard. It involves research institutions, industry leaders, and sustainability partners across Europe.
Funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), this four-year initiative focuses on biobased pest control solutions for potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas. These crops are vulnerable to pests like nematodes.
CROPSAFE aims to replace fossil-based pesticides with affordable, renewable bio-products. Early tests show promising results, including up to a 20% increase in yield and a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from crop protection.
Borregaard is using its Norwegian spruce lignin fractions and bark extracts to develop bioactive treatments against nematodes. These will be tested in European field trials, where early results are encouraging.
Gudbrand Rødsrud, Borregaard’s CTO, expressed high expectations: “We have promising nematode trial results. Success could benefit global agriculture by boosting food production and reducing toxic pesticide use.”
The CROPSAFE consortium includes Borregaard (Norway), Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Belgium), Grupo Regional de Cooperativas Plataneras del Archipiélago Canario (Spain), Alginor (Norway), Iconiq Innovation (UK), Italy’s Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Kaffe Bueno (Denmark), Acondicionamiento Tarrasense Associación (Spain), Soilsessentials Limited (UK), and Institut Químic de Sarrià (Spain).
Funding covers all testing and lab costs for academic partners. Borregaard’s development costs are covered at 60%, totaling around €226,000 over four years.
Finally, the project explores using renewable inputs like algae and spent coffee grounds. Turning waste into high-value biopesticide components, alongside Norwegian spruce extracts.
