Over the last four years, a consortium of 23 international organizations has been researching how to use more sustainable solutions without losing yield and quality.

The consortium is called NOVATERRA, which stands for “Integrated Novel Strategies for Reducing the Use and Impact of Pesticides, towards Sustainable Mediterranean Vineyards and Olive Groves”. The overall project aim is to create a more holistic approach to ensure food security and healthy food access for an increasing population while addressing the EU directives and priorities for sustainable use of pesticides.

Under the coordination of the Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology (IRTA), trials were carried out in five countries with an integrated approach combining the use of bio-based products with precision farming and improved soil management.

NOVATERRA included trials on farms in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece. “First, we tested the different strategies separately. Then, over the last year, we have chosen a few farms on which to integrate these strategies,” said Luis Asín, head of the Fruit Growing programme at IRTA. “It has been shown that it is feasible to reduce the use of PPP [plant protection products] from a holistic point of view.”

After four years of work, the results show that, by integrating the use of natural products with precision technologies and better soil management, the use of synthetic pesticides can be significantly reduced without losing yield or quality.

In search of alternative products
The strategies studied by NOVATERRA can be divided into three areas. The first is the use of alternative products to synthetic pesticides, such as biopesticides and biocontrol agents; also, formulations based on copper or sulphur nanoparticles were evaluated. Another example is microplastic-free, degradable pheromones, which are used to sexually confuse pest-causing insects and thus prevent males from finding females to reproduce. Finally, mass trapping was tried, using traps that attract pests.

Precision agriculture
The second area of action of NOVATERRA has been that of precision agriculture. Spraying equipment and agricultural machinery has been tested that applies the PPP only where there is a crop. Researchers also evaluated an intelligent vision system that, through sensors installed on tractors or other machinery, detects the presence of early symptoms caused by pests or diseases. These and other precision technologies aim to significantly reduce the use of pesticides.

Better soil management
The third strategy that NOVATERRA examined was the use of ecological infrastructures near or inside the planting row where plants are grown that are a refuge for the natural enemies of the organisms that cause pests. The use of a robot that contributes to weed control to improve diversity and save water was also tested.

In a news release, NOVATERRA suggested that the combination of new management strategies, new technologies and alternative products is proving to be the optimal way to reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

For its implementation, the NOVATERRA project had a budget of more than 5.5 million euros, of which 4.8 million euros came from a grant from the European Commission through the Horizon2020 programme.