Programme: Horizon Europe (GA 101130073)
Date: 2024-2028
Agrochemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, have doubled crop yields over the past century but cause significant environmental and human health issues. In response, the EU plans to reduce fertilizer losses and pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Controlled polymer-based delivery systems can limit agrochemical losses but rely on non-biodegradable plastics, leading to plastic pollution. Similarly, agricultural plastics like mulch films and growth foams help reduce agrochemical runoff but also contribute to the release of non-biodegradable plastics into the environment.
PHAntastic, coordinated by CETEC, tackles the reduction of agrochemicals and plastics pollution using PHAs, a family of bio-based biodegradable polymers. PHAntastic will develop two families of delivery systems (mulch films and growth foams) based on PHAs containing active bioproducts (amino acids & hydrolyzed proteins, microelements, elicitors and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria -PGPR) instead of synthetic agrochemicals. Thus, PHAntastic will contribute to a significant reduction of agrochemicals (minimum 25% in fertilizers, 50% in pesticides, resulting in 23 K tons less of agrochemicals by 2050) and plastic (680 T microplastics less by 2050) in our agricultural systems.
We participate in this project as KNOWLEDGE VALUE CONSULTING SRL, our Brussels-based company, and its role focuses on three activities: end-users evaluation (T.4.3.), social & economic sustainability assessment (T.5.3 & T.5.4.) and ethics principles definition to ensure citizens’ rights, security & welfare (T.8.3.).
