Key Takeaways
- CROPSAFE, a new EU-funded research and innovation project, has officially launched to develop safe and sustainable bio-based alternatives to chemical pesticides.
- The initiative targets major threats to key European crops, including PCN, RKN, Fusarium Wilt, and Banana Weevil.
- CROPSAFE will transform biological residues into bioactive crop protection compounds using a Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework.
- Innovations include advanced biopolymer formulations, digital decision-support tools, AI-guided application modelling, and pan-European field validation.
- The 48-month project engages universities, industry partners, and farmers across Europe to support food security, biodiversity, and the circular bioeconomy.
EU-Funded CROPSAFE Initiative Begins Development of Bio-Based Crop Protection Solutions
A new European consortium has announced the launch of CROPSAFE, a research and innovation project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program through the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). The project aims to develop bio-based, safe, and sustainable crop protection alternatives to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and safeguard major European food crops.
CROPSAFE responds to growing challenges faced by farmers as multiple chemical pesticides are phased out due to environmental and health concerns. Without viable alternatives, crops including potatoes, tomatoes, and bananas remain vulnerable to destructive pests and pathogens such as Potato Cyst Nematode, Root Knot Nematode, Fusarium Wilt, and Banana Weevil—threats that put yields, farmer incomes, and regional food security at risk.
CROPSAFE to Transform Biological Residues Into Next-Generation Bioactives
The project leverages circular bioeconomy principles to convert aquatic biomass, forestry residues, spent coffee grounds, and fungal waste into bioactive compounds. These include plant-inspired phenols and natural signalling mimics designed to interfere with pest communication or reinforce plant defences.
