About ECOBOOST
Agricultural crops are currently managed with unsustainable practices that cause the loss of biodiversity. In particular, pest management in the Mediterranean region still largely relies on chemical pesticides that negatively affect beneficial insects (predators, parasitoids and pollinators), disturb beneficial microbial communities in the soil, threatening stability of agroecosystems, food security and human health. ECOBOOST will identify, develop, validate, and promote novel agroecological practices that boost functional biodiversity and maximize ecosystem services in Mediterranean crops, while minimizing negative environmental impacts of agriculture and preserving farmers’ income. ECOBOOST will use a holistic approach to provide Mediterranean farmers the knowledge and tools needed to implement agroecological practices and promote biodiversity at different levels (i.e. aboveground biodiversity, belowground biodiversity, crop biodiversity).
Our Goals
Boost functional biodiversity
Maximize ecosystem services in Solanaceous crops
These goals will be achieved following a holistic approach that will provide Mediterranean farmers the knowledge and tools needed to implement agroecological practices and promote biodiversity at different levels: a) “aboveground, with the use of wild flowering plants in non-managed habitats to promote beneficial insects; b) belowground, with the use of biostimulants for seed coating and soil inoculation with selected microbes to promote soil and crop health; c) at crop biodiversity level with the exploitation of germplasm of Solanaceous crops, and by screening local varieties/breeds which are not only better adapted towards the Mediterranean conditions, but also possess early defenses against insect pests.
Minimize negative environmental impacts of agriculture
