Introduction

CROP BOOSTERS will validate the effectiveness of plant- and cyanobacteria-derived biostimulants and biofertilizers in enhancing drought tolerance in tomato plants. The project will also investigate the use of plant-derived nanovesicles in crop stress protection. The project is driven by the need for sustainable agricultural solutions, as climate change and population growth intensify pressure on food systems. The cultivation of plant cell suspensions and the preparation of the extracts will be carried out in Luxembourg (in the Greentech Innovation Centre of LIST-Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology). The Free University of Berlin in Germany will lead the tasks concerning the isolation of the nanovesicles. During the validation phase, greenhouse experiments reproducing drought conditions will be conducted in 2 different locations, Belgium (Université catholique de Louvain) and Italy (University of Basilicata).

Background

With climate change, environmental degradation, and limited resources threatening global food production, agriculture must become more sustainable. The world population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, making food security a top priority. To meet this growing demand while safeguarding natural resources, farming systems need to become more productive, resilient and efficient. Sustainable farming can benefit from bio-based products made from renewable sources like plants and microorganisms. These products, including biostimulants and biofertilizers, reduce our dependence on synthetic chemicals, improve soil health, and support biodiversity. Biostimulants contain molecules that improve plant stress tolerance by boosting physiological processes, while biofertilizers use beneficial microorganisms to increase nutrient availability.