The Global Agricultural Landscape: Navigating Challenges with Hybrid Bio-Solutions

The global agricultural landscape is at a crossroads, demanding a reassessment of traditional practices to ensure resilience and sustainability. Heightened pressures on biodiversity and the escalating impacts of climate change underscore the urgency for transformative changes. This imperative is particularly pronounced in horticultural cropping systems, exemplified by the ubiquitous tomato industry, where excessive synthetic fertilizer and pesticide use pose substantial challenges. In response to these pressing issues, the European Union's Agricultural Policy advocates for a sustainable and safer approach to pesticide and fertilizer usage. Recent regulatory changes, such as the 2019 EU Reg. 1009, restricting synthetic substances, present an opportune moment for pioneering solutions. One promising avenue is the flourishing field of organic farming, now bolstered by comprehensive EU legislation with an ambitious target of 25% agricultural land under organic cultivation by 2030 in the EU. However, organic farming faces its own set of challenges, including a persistent lack of production capacity and lower yields compared to conventional methods. Bio-based products, such as plant biostimulants and biopesticides, emerge therefore as crucial alternative

As we stand at the nexus of environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity, and consumer safety, a paradigm shift toward hybrid bio-solutions beckons. These innovative approaches, leveraging the strengths of both organic and bio-based strategies, hold the promise of longer-lasting and more effective agricultural solutions. To navigate this transformative journey successfully, a cross-disciplinary collaboration spanning horticulture, plant defense, physiology, molecular genetics, and beyond is indispensable. Our collective journey aims to harness cross-disciplinary expertise to propel us toward a vision of zero-residue, biologically-based agriculture—a vision that aligns with the evolving needs of our society, environment, and the sustenance of generations to come.

Embarking on a journey to enhance organic farming, the BBHORT project is grounded in the hypothesis that a vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate bio-stimulant (BS) can amplify the effectiveness of a microbial-based biopesticide (BP). The collaboration between these bio-products is expected to yield a synergy that quantitatively enhances performance and addresses various stressful conditions in agriculture. The envisioned synergy encompasses multiple mechanisms. Firstly, the BS is believed to fortify the plant's innate defense mechanisms, facilitating a quicker and more robust response to pests. Secondly, the BS may enhance the growth and persistence of the BP, thereby broadening its efficiency and potential targets. Additionally, BSs are known to improve nutrient use efficiency in plants, which could positively impact nutrient balance in organic farming . The chosen experimental system involves the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana as the BP, offering a broad-spectrum biopesticidal profile and the potential to establish intimate relationships with plants.

To unravel the complexities of the interaction between BS and BP, the project delineates various objectives. They  span agronomic evaluations, assessments of crop protection against pests, elucidation of effects on crop physiology and metabolism, interpretation of molecular responses, and a robust dissemination strategy for impactful results. As BBHORT sets out to explore the intricacies of these bio-product interactions, the project envisions not only advancing scientific understanding but also contributing significantly to the practical and sustainable evolution of organic farming practices.

Impact

The BBHORT project takes a novel approach to mitigating the harmful effects of biotic stressors in organic agriculture, utilizing naturally occurring compounds and organisms. This innovative approach will span a wide range of scientific processes, shedding light on biostimulation, transcriptional connections, and metabolomic aspects in horticulture. Beyond its scientific contributions, the project aligns with the growing commercial interest in sustainable plant health support. The project's agricultural and environmental impact is substantial, aiming to reduce yield losses, enhance product quality, and minimize the environmental footprint of agricultural activities. From an agricultural standpoint, BBHORT anticipates a significant reduction in yield losses caused by pests and suboptimal environmental conditions, ultimately improving the overall quality and resilience of crops. The project's technological impact extends to the burgeoning bio-based industry sector, providing experimental evidence for new business opportunities. If successful, BBHORT could ultimately lead to ready-to-spray solutions, simplifying the adoption of biological tools for farmers.

The project aligns with the growing societal demand for organic agriculture, advancing not only scientific knowledge but also the practical and sustainable evolution of organic farming practices.The tools developed through BBHORT's research endeavor will impact farming practices, contributing to a resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural future.