Summary
Highlights
The BioCrop project, funded by DAFFODIL, involves UCD, Trinity, Chagask, and UI Galway, along with international and industry partners. The project focuses on finding sustainable alternatives to traditional crop inputs that have environmental and health concerns.
Crop production heavily relies on plant protection products and manufactured fertilizers. Concerns about environmental and health impacts have led to the banning of many chemicals, such as chlorothalonil and neonicotinoids, leaving growers with fewer options. Manufactured fertilizers contribute significantly to energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, with tillage responsible for 80% of emissions from fossil-based fertilizers. The EU's Farm-to-Fork strategy aims to reduce pesticide use by 50% and fertilizer use by 20%.
BioCrop will explore alternatives including beneficial microbes (endophytes), biopesticides (antifungals from various sources like seaweed), and biostimulants. These will be tested in fields to control issues like barley yellow dwarf virus and Ramularia. The project will also assess the life cycle of these bioproducts to ensure they are more sustainable than current options and develop a bioeconomic model for the crop sector.
Industrial nitrogen fertilizers, while beneficial for population growth, consume 1% of global energy, lead to eutrophication through leaching, and emit N2O, a potent greenhouse gas. Biostimulants offer a potential solution by enhancing nutrient uptake, increasing tolerance to stress, and improving crop quality. These can include fungi, bacteria, seaweed extracts, and organic waste products.
The project will detail and compare the efficiency of biostimulants against traditional fertilizers, assessing their impact on grain quality and greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to provide strong evidence for farmers to reduce fertilizer use without impacting yield or quality. Three products are being investigated: a seaweed extract from Brandon Bioscience, a bacillus ferment from Novacue enriched with humic and fulvic acids, and a hydrolyzed yeast product from the University of Seville made from brewery waste. These will be tested in greenhouse and field experiments.
Two PhD students are conducting greenhouse trials to determine optimal application rates and dosages in a controlled environment using soil from the field trial site. Field trials will follow for three years, focusing on winter barley varieties (Cassia and Craft). Measurements will include phenotyping, grain quality, yield data, and greenhouse gas emissions. The project also aims to understand below-ground migration and logistical aspects for farmers adopting new products.
A key question is what constitutes a 'good result' for growers—whether a slightly reduced yield with greater sustainability is acceptable. The ideal outcome would be no net financial loss for farmers. Industry interest, driven by EU policies like the Farm-to-Fork strategy, pushes for sustainable agriculture. Collaborations with companies like Glanbia highlight this shift. The project also plans to investigate biostimulants in grasslands, suggesting wider applicability of findings.
The close collaboration with industry partners like Novacue (a spin-out from UCD) and Brandon Bioscience demonstrates a mutual interest in scientific validation and sustainable practices. The project will test different doses, application times, and modes (seed treatment, foliar application) to find the 'perfect recipe' for each biostimulant. Initial focus is on individual product efficacy before exploring combined 'cocktail' applications.
Life cycle assessments will evaluate the environmental impact of bioproducts from manufacturing to waste, comparing them against conventional fertilizers. The project will also analyze greenhouse gas emissions as part of this assessment. While primarily focused on efficacy, researchers are keen to understand the mechanisms by which these biostimulants work, such as inducing plant defense genes or upregulating nitrate transporters.
The discussion touches on public and farmer attitudes towards 'biopesticides' and 'biofertilizers.' While the term 'bio' is generally positively perceived, potential backlash due to lack of understanding is a concern. The scientific community is addressing how to communicate these innovations effectively, with a colleague looking into bioeconomy attitudes.