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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram

Eco-friendly Biostimulant for Potato Cyst Nematode Mitigation - CystLab

Alternative title: Miljøvennlig biostimulant for kontroll av potetcystenematode - CystLab

Awarded: NOK 3.4 mill.

Project Number:

309407

Project Period:

2020 - 2023

Funding received from:

Location:

CystLab seeks to optimize and verify a novel, low-cost agricultural product developed to remove parasitic potato cyst nematodes (PCNs), an increasing problem for the world's potato production. After the prohibition of nematicides in 2015, no effective PCN treatment is available on the market. Potato producers are left with methods like crop rotation, resistant cultivars, hygiene regimes and quarantines that slow down, but do not eradicate, the spreading of PCN. Our product is an environmentally friendly, species specific, alternative to nematicides. The farmer will benefit from increased annual yield and reduced operating costs, all-year control of hatching and the potential to reduce quarantine from 40 to 2 years. PCNs, small parasitic worms, reduce global potato yields in average by 10%, in some areas as high as 90%. PCNs can lay latent for up to 40 years awaiting the potato host. They have an exponential growth and is easily spread with seed potatoes, agricultural equipment and birds. Potatoes are the world's third most important food crop with an annual production of >350 million tons, distributed on all five continents, in all climates. Potatoes will play a key role in feeding the worlds growing population. NMBU has developed a novel active compound that provokes PCNs to hatch in absence of potatoes, leaving the parasite to starve and die. The effect is well documented through scientific in vitro experiments with effects comparable to natural hatching rates. The main objective of this project to verify that the active ingredient can induce hatching in soil. Unfortunately, the project experiments to induce hatching in soil has not been successful. Several trials have been carried out, both in vitro and in soil, but it has been challenging to develop a formulation that can transport the active ingredient to the potato cyst nematodes in soil.

The project has given Ard Innovation a very valuable insight into project design, project development, building of project teams and it is a case we are using actively in our daily development as a TTO.

Funding scheme:

BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram