- During this first technical visit, it was possible to get to know the experimental centre’s facilities for the first time and to plan the first on-site tests of the project
- LIFE NextFUMIGREEN is a European project aimed at testing the efficacy of a new type of fumigant plant protection product based on natural active ingredients
Almeria. Last Tuesday 11th April, the partners of the European project LIFE NextFUMIGREEN have met for the first time in the experimental centre of Tecnova in Almeria to get to know the facilities first hand and to advance with the planning of the first trials of the project. In addition, during this first visit, an experiment on the population dynamics of whitefly pests in aubergines treated with alternative fumigants to chemical pesticides has been carried out.
This field visit was attended by Carlos Ramos, Operations Manager at FumiHogar, leader of the project; Abel Zaragoza, Head of Development of Semiochemicals Comercial Massó; Benito Ortega, Development and Marketing Delegate at Massó; Marta Bachs, consultant at B&B Asesores; Rosa Beaus, Director at B&B Asesores; and Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, among others.
The LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project
LIFE NextFUMIGREEN is a European project that seeks to control whitefly populations (Bemisia tabaco and Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and fungal outbreaks of botrytis cinerea in horticultural crops grown intensively in greenhouses. With a total budget of 2,758,921.01€, 60% subsidised by the LIFE programme of the European Commission, the project has a duration of four years and six months, until 31 May 2027. This initiative is led by FumiHogar, in collaboration with Tecnova, B&B Asesores, Comercial Química Massó, BrioAgro Tech and Fundación Finnova.
The project has the support of Casa Mediterráneo, a public institution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and an instrument of cultural diplomacy and environmental economic cooperation that promotes collaboration in projects financed by the EU for mutual knowledge between Spain and the Mediterranean countries which, “in its desire to spread the merits of innovation in the Mediterranean agri-food sector, is committed to collaborate and disseminate the LIFE NextFUMIGREEN project,” said Andrés Perelló, director general of Casa Mediterráneo.
The delegate of the Regional Ministry of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy of the Andalusian Regional Government in Almeria, Manuel de la Torre Francia, also spoke very favourably: “We must welcome this innovative initiative that will help to further advance the sustainability of our agriculture, which is already very high. Congratulations to FUNDACION TECNOVA and the other partners in this project, which has received EU support”.
Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, has valued very positively this visit and the importance of this LIFE where he would highlight “the commitment to scale up the project and obtain new sources of funding through European funds such as the LIFE programme, Erasmus+, NextMed or Nextgeneration to help sustainable production in less polluting agriculture”.
About Life NextFUMIGREEN
LIFE NextFUMIGREEN is a European project that seeks to develop natural fumigants from plant extracts to control whitefly populations and fungal outbreaks of botrytis in greenhouse horticultural crops. The project, led by FumiHogar and 60% funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme, will last four and a half years and will test the efficacy of a new fumigant biopesticide that is less toxic than conventional ones. With a total budget of €2,758,921.01, this project aims to improve food safety, biodiversity and contribute to the professionalisation of farmers in the use of biopesticides.
About FumiHogar
FumiHogar was founded in Malaga in 1967 by its founder Mr. Antonio Cintora Gil to provide a service to the incipient sector of DDD (Disinfection, Pest Control and Rodent Control) professionals, as an insecticide formulating company. Since then, FumiHogar has maintained the technology of manufacturing self-contained, pre-dosed fumigant canisters as its own hallmark, which very few companies in the world are capable of formulating with the appropriate quality guarantee. Nowadays, FumiHoagr produces fumigant canisters of insecticides, bactericides, fungicides, virucides, biostimulants and environmental improvers based on all kinds of molecules for biocidal control cases or active ingredients in premises or greenhouses.
About TECNOVA
The Tecnova Technology Centre is responsible for promoting applied innovation and technological development based on the knowledge acquired nationally and internationally, providing value and competitiveness to companies in the agricultural auxiliary industry sector and with the collaboration of all the agents involved in the process. It is present in 25 countries and its aim is innovation and technological development, the transfer of technology and knowledge in order to be more competitive through innovation.
About BB Asesores Auditores Ambientales
BB Asesores has a team of multidisciplinary professionals (pharmacists, chemists, biologists and engineers) with practical experience in different industrial sectors. With more than 20 years in the market, they have specialised in processing and obtaining registrations and approvals in fields as diverse as medicines and medical devices, cosmetic products, biocidal products and chemical substances in general.
About Comercial Química Massó
Comercial Química Massó’s main activity is the distribution of speciality chemicals from recognised leading companies in different sectors, as well as products developed in-house and marketed under the company’s registered trademarks.
About BrioAgro Tech
BrioAgro was born in the countryside of Seville, thanks to the initiative of Mairena del Alcor (Seville): “Impúlsame”, which was set up as a company in February 2015. Following the plague of the red palm weevil, an insect that was destroying palm trees all over Spain a few years ago, they devised an initial prototype based on sensors that identified the presence of the insect by means of sound signals. Once the pest had been combated, they transferred and adapted this initial technology to what is now BrioAgro Technologies, a company that uses technology in the service of agriculture, sending the necessary information to help farmers make decisions. In this way, it contributes to increasing productivity and improving the environmental control of crops.
About Casa Mediterráneo
Casa Mediterráneo is a public consortium founded in 2009 and made up of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAUEC), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the Generalitat Valenciana, Alicante City Council, Benidorm City Council and Alicante Provincial Council. It is configured as an instrument of public diplomacy whose main objective is to promote mutual knowledge and rapprochement between Spain and the rest of the Mediterranean countries in areas such as culture, economy, climate change, gender equality and scientific and technological innovation.
About Finnova Foundation
Finnova is the Spanish-Belgian non-profit foundation based in Brussels and Spain, working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship in the EU. Finnova’s experience in leading communication and dissemination activities for European projects is combined with a proven track record in business creation and entrepreneurship support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and events, as well as its commitment to training and employability of young people.