Biocontrol is usually enhanced at higher natural enemy diversity, but an important challenge is to know which natural enemy cocktails (i.e. combinations) are best to control pests. The positive effect of enemy diversity on biocontrol emerges when natural enemies complement each other (the “complementarity effect”). This effect can be dampened when enemies engage in antagonistic interactions (the “antagonistic effect”). Intraguild predation occurs when two predators that share a prey also feed on each other, and is one of the antagonistic interactions that worries biocontrol stakeholders the most. The conditions under which complementarity and intraguild predation promote or impair biocontrol are little understood, and conclusive experimental evidence that tests the relative role of these two opposing forces is lacking. The overarching aim of this project is to uncover the interacting effect of complementarity and intraguild predation between natural enemies as drivers of successful biocontrol. This will allow us to design natural enemy cocktails to be tested in commercial greenhouses. This project is structured in three axes, (i) the first is experimental and will be developed at the UMR CBGP (Centre pour la Biologie et la Gestion des Populations) in Montpellier. (ii) The second will be developed at ISEM (Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier) in Montpellier and will use data from experiments to build theoretical models to better understand species interactions. (iii) Based on the experiments and theory we will select the best enemy cocktails, which will be mass produced and tested in commercial greenhouses by Biobest France, the industrial partner. This project will provide new breakthroughs in insect ecology, and will also provide a roadmap for the selection of natural enemies in biocontrol. Better biocontrol technologies will reduce chemical inputs in agriculture, a key element for a fair, healthy and an environmentally-friendly food system.

ACROPICS addresses the need for sustainable agricultural practices that use little to no harmful crop protection inputs. ACROPICS (1) reinforces 12 place-based co-innovation initiatives involving local actors implementing agroecological crop protection (ACP), (2) connects these initiatives to each other and to research & innovation teams worldwide, (3) produces scientific evidence of the sustainability of ACP systems, (4) supports these initiatives via international research and innovation actions, (5) highlights these initiatives at the international level, and (6) contributes to creating and training an intersectoral network of teams and (future) experts promoting ACP. ACROPICS associates 15 organisations (12 academic, 3 non-academic) with biological, ecological and social science expertise. It plans staff exchanges among academia, biocontrol industries and 12 sustainable agriculture systems (SAS) in 10 countries. Collaborative activities will (1) co-design and implement innovation strategies (coupling ecological, technical and organisational/institutional innovations in an innovation push/pull approach), (2) produce knowledge enabling ACP innovations (certification schemes, ecological infrastructures, etc.), and (3) produce sustainability assessments and communicate them to a wide range of stakeholders, from growers to policy-makers and investors. Expected results and impacts are: the creation of a core team of an emerging large-scale international initiative on ACP; drastic increases of sustainability in 12 systems covering main crop types and further impact on >100 similar systems worldwide via dissemination in connected networks; state-of-the art research results promoting ACP; training of future researchers with hybrid expertise adapted to the challenges faced by ACP; engagement of a large number stakeholders across food value chains; demonstration and exploitation of new innovations ranging from certification schemes to biocontrol products and services.

The REENFORCE project, led by the Agricultural University of Athens, aims to create a long-lasting cross-sectoral collaboration, to empower the R&I human capital base, increase the cross-sectoral collaboration and enhance the excellence of research performing organisations in the Widening countries of Greece and Portugal. The project’s thematic area lies in sustainable crop protection, more specifically in the topics of: (i) bio-based solutions and low-risk pesticides, (ii) ecotoxicology assessment of applied substances and (iii) smart spraying applications. REENFORCE addresses Action 4 of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024, while it supports Europe's twin green and digital transition, in the context of agriculture and sustainable crop protection. REENFORCE consortium consists of 4 academic organisations, 4 private companies and 1 competence centre from two Widening countries (Greece and Portugal) and one non-Widening country (Belgium), specialising in the fields of bio-based, low-risk and smart application of pesticides. REENFORCE will map relevant needs and knowledge gaps in R&I and cross-sectoral collaborative research in Widening countries, defining the requirements for upskilling human capital and enhancing research organisations' excellence, following business sector demands. It will develop specialised training material, and will conduct multiple training activities (face-to-face & online), cross-border and cross-sectoral secondments of R&I talents (in the context of joint research studies and shared use of infrastructure), providing opportunities for personal career development. REENFORCE will propose best practices, institutional reforms and policy recommendations, to increase the excellence of R&I, and research support, in Widening countries, and will widely promote the economic, environmental and societal benefits of bio-based, low-risk and smart application of pesticides.

The Directive 2009/128/EC sets rules in EU for the sustainable use of pesticides to reduce the risks and impacts of pesticide use on people's health and the environment. Among the listed actions there is the promotion of low pesticide-input management including non-chemical methods. In parallel several chemical active ingredients have been banned because of toxicity concerns. The result is that growers are left with few control tools against pests. On the other hand most of the available alternative control methods have several limitations, especially in term of efficacy. Several new ideas are not reaching the industry and are confined in the academic world. The concept behind this EIT is to explore new approaches to identify new cutting edge solutions for pest control based on new non classical approaches in strict collaboration with industrial partner and to train 11 highly skilled early stage researchers (ESR) through a doctoral programme that integrates 5 academic research with concept-driven product development in 6 EU companies with a strong curriculum in development and innovation within a large interdisciplinary environment. Microorganisms are often used so far as replacement of chemical active ingredients. The innovative aspect of this EID is to base the new pest control solutions on interactions of microorganisms with plants and insects rather than using them as plant protection products. Microorganisms’ unsurpassed inclination towards the association with eukaryotic macro-organisms determines traits and qualities in the host that harbours them. Microbial symbionts’ ability to profoundly transform their living habitat paves the way for unexplored outlooks in the ability to use microbial symbioses as sustainable and renewable tools to improve production and quality in agriculture. Microorganisms are key players in shaping several insect’s semiochemicals, in particular kairomones indicating a food source or oviposition site for some insect species.