EU GREEN WEEK 2021, celebrated between the 31st of May and the 4th of June, offered the chance of gathering different agents interested in achieve a deeper collaboration with which achieve a zero contamination society for an environment free of toxic substances.
Related to this, FEUGA organised an event focused on circular economy and sustainability. Celebrated online and with simultaneous translation, the event gathered different national and European projects with the common aim of reducing the pollution and enhance the sustainability.
Between the projects presented in the opening session (“Agriculture and Farming: how to contribute?”) were Operational Groups VITICAST and VARROAFORM, in which in both FEUGA is member. VITICAST participation was carried out by Débora Franco, from Monet Viticultura. Lucía Lloret, from FEUGA, was responsible of introducing VARROAFORM. Both interventions served to show the objectives and results achieved and to show the commitment to sustainability through innovation that both projects pursue.
On the one hand, the main objective of VITICAST is to promote a more sustainable wine sector through the innovative management of the main fungal diseases of the vine (downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis). With the development of a model that allows the prediction of the risk of fungal diseases, VITICAST aims to optimize the use of phytosanitary products, applying them only when it exists a real and objective risk.
On the other hand, VARROAFORM is developing an effective formulation for the control and prevention of varroatosis in domestic bees, a disease caused by the V. destructor mite that can cause losses of up to 100% of production. The project seeks to reduce the economic losses of the sector by developing a new formulation based on products of natural origin (essential oils) incorporated in biodegradable systems/supports, and therefore suitable for the ecological beekeeping.
The presentations of both projects, both in English and Spanish, are available at the following links:
- VARROAFORM (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzaJX-i0YxY
- VARROAFORM (English): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUslmf3WtOc
- VITICAST (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYI5zikQrdM
- VITICAST (English): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONjId0U4WXg
More information about both projects on its websites:
VARROAFORM: https://varroaform.es/
VITICAST: https://viticast.es/
VARROAFORM is an innovation project 80% co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Rural Development Program 2014-2020. The General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agrifood Training (GDRDIAT) is the authority in charge of the application of this aids. Total project budget: €395,920.30. Total grant: €379,920.30.
VITICAST is an innovation project 80% co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The General Directorate of Rural Development, Innovation and Agrifood Training (GDRDIAT) is the authority in charge of the application of this aids. Total project budget: €615,249.08. Total grant: €599,957.08.
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