PHAntastic

PHA-based iNnovative agriculTurAl Solutions to deliver bio-based ferTIlisers and plant protection produCts. Agrochemicals have doubled crop yields but have also caused negative impacts. The EU aims to reduce fertiliser losses and pesticide use by 50 % by 2030. Polymer-based delivery systems can help, but they generate plastic pollution. Agricultural plastics like mulch films and growth foams minimise agrochemical use but contribute to non-biodegradable plastic pollution. The EU-funded PHAntastic project aims to reduce agrochemical and plastic pollution by developing biodegradable polymers. Based on these polymers, it will create delivery systems (mulch films and growth foams) that contain active bioproducts and will test them on horticultural crops in Europe. The project aims to contribute to more sustainable and less impactful agriculture.

Project partners: CETEC Biotechnology S.L. (Spain), Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (Spain), ARCHA Srl (Italy), Helian Polymers B.V. (the Netherlands), Chalmers Tekniska Högskola AB (Sweden), Knowledge Value Consulting (Belgium), Revolve Planet (Belgium), IdeaConsult Ltd. (Bulgaria), Probelte S.A. (Spain), Asociación de Organizaciones de Productores de Frutas y Hortalizas de la Región de Murcia (Spain), RTDS Association (Austria), Agrupación de Viveristas de Agrios S.A. (Spain), Stichting Greenport Regio Boskoop (the Netherlands), and Stichting Vertify (the Netherlands).