PHERA: A Major Grant from BBI JU Aiming to Commercialise sustainable Pest Control with Insect Pheromones.
Russell IPM is delighted to be part of the PHERA consortium that has won a €6.4 million grant Russell IPM is delighted to be part of the PHERA consortium that has won a €6.4 million grant from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, aimed at sustainable from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, aimed at sustainable production and deployment of pheromone using fermentation processes. The grant from the production and deployment of pheromone using fermentation processes.
The grant from the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), a partnership between the EU and several of Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), a partnership between the EU and several of Europe’s bio-based industries, will help Europe meet its goals for sustainable agriculture. Europe’s bio-based industries, will help Europe meet its goals for sustainable agriculture.
Using pheromone-based Mating Disruption (MD) to control pest populations is a safe, effective, Using pheromone-based Mating Disruption (MD) to control pest populations is a safe, effective, and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. To date, MD uptake has been limited by the and sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. To date, MD uptake has been limited by the cost of pheromone production and has only been developed for high value crops and markets. cost of pheromone production and has only been developed for high value crops and markets.
Cost-effective pheromone production will enable the extension of this technology to staple Cost-effective pheromone production will enable the extension of this technology to staple crops and markets around the world to the benefit of farmers and consumers. Since the project crops and markets around the world to the benefit of farmers and consumers.
Since the project started in March 2020, sufficient quantities of good quality pheromone have already been started in March 2020, sufficient quantities of good quality pheromone have already been produced for field trials.
