Copper is currently widely used as a plant protection product in organic and conventional/IPM farming systems, despite its problematic ecotoxicological profile (listed as candidate for substitution). European policy and organic farming associations aim to substitute copper, but efficient and sustainable alternatives are lacking. Staggering amounts of copper need to be substituted (more than 3200t of copper metal in European organic agriculture alone).
The plant extract Larixyne has been explored for its potential for commercial use as a fungicide in previous projects (EU-ForestSpecs, EU-ProLarix, EU-RELACS) by FiBL and project partners (Patent WO2015/140528), and has reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7. Yet, to achieve economic feasibility in an extremely competitive economic environment, production costs need to be optimized.
In this project, together with a British SME and the former project partners (University of Surrey, Kew Gardens), we will further explore and optimize all steps of the industrial scale production of Larixyne in order to advance its market entry in Switzerland, EU and UK as an economically feasible alternative to copper fungicides.
Eurostars programme of Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency)
Project Partner
