BIODERA Biological control of crop parasites using plant and marine molecules

The BIODERA project is aimed at eliminating nematodes, microscopic worms which include disease-carrying species and which are found in agricultural soil.

Chemical solutions are currently available to eradicate these plant parasites, which cause a significant drop in annual yields of cultivated crops such as potatoes, beetroot and carrots. BIODERA involves identifying active ingredients in naturally sourced plant and marine molecules, which will biologically control several species of plant-parasitic nematodes. These biomolecules will be incorporated into soil amendments or fertilizers to forestall or prevent the development of plant-parasitic nematodes from the earliest growing stages of the crop requiring protection (before sowing and as plantation established).

The BIODERA project offers the possibility of developing a new technology based on plant and marine molecules to help agriculture tackle the major challenges of tomorrow.

The BIODERA project is recognised jointly by the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique and the Pôle Mer IAR.