BioPestiSol

Contracting authority: Schweizer Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU)

Project period: 2018-2020

Project description:

The effects of synthetic pesticides of human health and environment are growing concerns among consumers, farmers, environmental managers, and politicians. Thus, modern agriculture is pushed to promote the use of alternative environmentally friendly products, such as plant protection products containing microorganisms (biopesticides). Significant efforts are usually made to evaluate the effect of these products on plant protection. Nevertheless, the environmental fate of these microorganisms (mostly bacteria, fungi, oomycetes and viruses) and their potential impact on soil microorganisms are not (or very poorly) evaluated.

The aim of this research project is to overcome the lack of information cited above:

• Assess the persistence and the fate of microorganisms from plant protection products
• Analyze the effect of treatment on soil microbial community
• Identify the microorganism(s) contained in the plant protection products based on microorganisms (quality control)

Project partner:

• Prof. Dr. Thierry Heger, Changins, Nyon, Switzerland (Leiter)