The DIRECTIVE 2009/128/EC ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF PESTICIDES gives directions for attaining the sustainable use of pesticides in the EU. The objective is to minimize risks and impacts for the environment and human health by promoting alternative strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the cornerstones of the Directive. NOVATERRA aims to reduce the use and negative impacts of CONTENTIOUS PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS (PPP) for integrated pest, disease and weed management in the two main Mediterranean crops in Europe: grapevines and olives. NOVATERRA will develop a pool of novel, integrated and sustainable strategies, technically and economically viable, resulting from three different approaches: a) To develop novel combinations of ALTERNATIVE, non-synthetic PRODUCTS and biological control techniques for plant protection, b) To optimize the application and dosage of PPP through SMART FARMING technologies and c) To mitigate the appearance of pest and diseases through the use of new SOIL MANAGEMENT strategies. Those approaches will be evaluated and validated in a combination of integrated solutions for updating and improving IPM strategies. Indicators for measuring the impact of crop management and protection on human health, air, water, soil, biodiversity, energy will be implemented. Further analyses will be done in terms of economic cost-benefit for farmers to adopt the different techniques and farmers and consumers’ willingness to pay. The consortium composition will guarantee a multi-actor approach with contributions coming from research institutions, growers, technological SMEs, auxiliary industry and relevant associations. Finally, the Exploitation Plan together with the Communication and Dissemination Plan will ensure the outreach of results among the stakeholders in the European farming sector. NOVATERRA outputs will also be key for further discussion with policymakers in terms of EU plant health policies and risk assessment around PPPs usage.

BeXyl will contribute to promote research and innovation and specifically provide interdisciplinary solutions according to the demand of the stakeholders embebed in the project, contributing to deliver specific impacts for each of the expected outcomes as foreseen by the HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01-04 call. In line with the conceptual approach of the new EU Plant Health Law, BeXyl has been conceived to strengthen the two pillars of plant protection: i) prevention and ii) control strategies for the priority quarantine pathogen Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). The workplan is designed to assess the risk of new Xf outbreaks in the EU under changing climate (WP1), improve the methods for border inspections and surveillance for early detection (WP2), ensure the phytosanitary standards for the trade of plant propagation materials using non-chemical treatments (WP3), restore outbreak areas based on the strategies to improve host plant resistance (WP4) and disease management tools (i.e., Decision Support Systems and IPM protocols) in conventional and organic production (WP7) based on investigations for the control of insect vector populations (WP5) and innovative biological tools for Xf (WP6). Outbreak management approaches will take fully into account the ecological and socioeconomic contexts for their adoption and implementation (WP8). In line with the EU Green Deal for a transition to environmentally sustainable, healthy and resilient agriculture and forestry, BeXyl will support research, innovation and transfer of knowledge (WP9) for crisis preparedness to help to prevent new Xf outbreaks and further spread of currently infested areas, as well as to support agricultural/forestry sectors for remaining productive in outbreak areas.