In the AURORA project, we are developing a comprehensive strategy based on the use of biopesticides and digital technologies to reduce the incidence of disease in agricultural crops, paving the way for ecological and precision agriculture.

Population growth means that production systems must be adapted to meet high demand. This is a challenge faced by all sectors, but today we are focusing on the agricultural sector because, in order to meet the growing demand for food products, it has been forced to resort to chemical pesticides. This, combined with the effects of global climate change, has had negative impacts on the environment, such as soil, water, and biodiversity contamination, as well as pathogen resistance.

To transform agriculture into a model that balances productivity and sustainability, the AURORA project was created, in which we are researching a comprehensive strategy based on the use of biopesticides and digital technologies to reduce the incidence of disease in agricultural crops, taking a step forward towards ecological and precision agriculture. To this end, AURORA integrates three lines of action:

• Specific microorganisms to eliminate crop pathogens.
• Natural extracts with biocidal activity.
• Bio-hydrogels to improve soil health and immobilize biopesticides.

The project also implements advanced digital systems (Artificial Vision) for the monitoring and early detection of pathogens, allowing for more efficient and precise management of treatments. In addition, natural extracts and compounds for the synthesis of bio-hydrogels (biopolymers, biochar, and wood vinegar) will be obtained from agri-food waste, improving the sustainability and circularity of the proposal.

AURORA Consortium

AURORA has a consortium formed by Kemegal, a leading SME in the Galician and national chemical sector that is leading the project; AIRA, an agricultural cooperative in Galicia with the largest dairy cattle feed production plant in Spain; Generandi, a company dedicated to the management and exploitation of agricultural crops, timber and biomass trade; and CETIM, which will carry out the technical coordination of the project as a leading Technology Center in industrial sustainability and research applied to new solutions focused on the circular economy. We all met last month at Kemegal’s facilities to establish the first steps we will take in the initiative to achieve the objective: to achieve biocontrol and early detection of pathogens in order to achieve sustainable agriculture.

More specifically, CETIM will define strategies for the biological treatment of agricultural pathogens: obtaining biopesticides based on microorganisms (phage, bacteria, and fungi), researching new formulations of biopesticides based on microorganisms, and evaluating them. We will also investigate the extraction of compounds with biocidal activity from agri-food waste and by-products, their application in formulations, efficient application strategies, and their testing and validation.

Thanks to the collaboration and complementarity of the entire consortium, AURORA will be able to find sustainable and efficient alternative solutions, reducing dependence on conventional chemical pesticides and promoting more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture.

The AURORA project (Reference: CPP2024-011867) has been funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Agencia Estatal de Investigación /10.13039/501100011033/ ERDF, EU.