The EU-funded VIRTIGATION project addresses viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits

Published 2021년 9월 15일

Tridge summary

The VIRTIGATION project, funded by the EU, aims to combat emerging viral diseases in tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, squash, and zucchini. The project will develop biobased solutions, including plant vaccines, biopesticides, and integrated pest management, to reduce crop losses by at least 80% and decrease the use of phytosanitary products by up to 50%. The project will also use innovative diagnostic tools and online monitoring platforms for early detection and control of these diseases. The project involves 25 partners from 12 countries and is coordinated by KU Leuven University.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Every year viral diseases wreak havoc on tomato and cucurbit crops worldwide, losing about 3.5 billion euros of harvest just at the European level. The EU-funded VIRTIGATION project has been launched to combat emerging viral diseases in tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, squash and zucchini. Pandemics don't just affect humanity. New aggressive viruses are spreading in greenhouses and crop fields throughout the world, threatening the multi-billion dollar numbers that drive the tomato and cucurbit value chains. From Europe, Morocco, Israel to India, significant crop losses are being recorded, ranging from 15% to total crop destruction. The emergence of new and devastating viruses in plants is enhanced by climate change, the increase in market globalization and a greater interconnection of the agricultural sectors. Bio-based solutions to protect tomato and cucurbits To date, no viable resources are available that address the destruction of crops caused by these diseases in vegetables. ...

Source: Cuaderno Agrario