Institut für die Sicherheit biotechnologischer Verfahren bei Pflanzen
Synthetic pesticides constitute an integral part of modern agriculture. Still, there are growing concerns about their consistent detection in natural resources constituting a major risk for the environment and human health. This is evident despite the stringent regulatory framework that the EC has implemented for the market introduction of plant protection products (PPP). Low-risk pesticides (LRP), are actives of biological origin that are gaining ground in the global pesticide market as low risk, high safety pesticides. The main LRP categories (i) plant extracts with pesticidal activity (ii) pheromones, semiochemicals and allelochemicals (iii) ds-RNA and (iv) microbial pesticides including mainly bioactive bacteria and fungi, phages and protists predating on plant pathogens, microbiome solutions and microbiome-modulation approaches. From those, plant extracts and plant-derived bioactives, microbial pesticides and pheromones have already established representatives approved in the EU market, while ds-RNA and phage, protist and microbiome-based PPPs are expected to be introduced in the market in the upcoming years. The growing interest on LRP is reflected in the increase in the number of publications for biopesticides globally, however Europe is lagging in the number of LPR products registered compared to USA, India and China. This is a reflection of the differences in the regulatory framework controlling the approval of LRP in the different regions around the globe. Unlike in other regions, in Europe LRP are going through the same registration process used for synthetic pesticides without considering the particular needs and characteristics of LRP. This has been acknowledged by several studies and the European Commission itself as a major blockage point in the introduction of LRP in the EU market meeting the demands of the public and reaching the goals of Green Deal for zero pollution. RATION timely comes to address this major constrain for LRP introduction in the EU market and unravel their full potential. In this frame the main aim of RATION is to develop a novel risk assessment scheme, along with the necessary guidance, methods and tools for its implementation, tailored to the requirements and characteristics of the different LRP solutions, already being in the market (microbials, plant extracts, pheromones, semiochemicals) but also emerging ones (ds-RNA, microbiome solutions). This main objective is supported by several specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based objectives, translated into project results and supported by a set of key performance indicators developed hereafter. Different end-users will be targeted: regulatory bodies, LRP Industry, researchers, farmers and their representatives, general public.
Europäische Union
