Project number: 26.30.16.05.06_BioShield

BioShield: Harnessing natural strategies for sustainable control of invertebrate pests

BioShield aims to transform sustainable pest management in Swiss agriculture by combining biodegradable biomaterials with the bioprospection of natural compounds to control major nematodes and insect pests. The project addresses the urgent need for alternatives to synthetic pesticides. BioShield follows two strategies: adapting biomaterials into physical tools such as barriers or traps for greenhouse and field systems; and exploring underused resources (fungal isolates, agro-industrial by-products, entomopathogenic bacteria, and alpine algae) to discover novel small-molecule biocides. Candidate solutions will pass through laboratory assays, dose-response studies, greenhouse trials, and non-target safety evaluations. The most promising will be optimized for stability, delivery, and compatibility with Swiss farming. Target pests include Meloidogyne and Globodera spp., Popilia japonica, Agriotes spp., and Myzus persicae. Beyond products, BioShield will reduce pesticide dependence, valorize local by-products, provide regulatory data, and strengthen Switzerland’s capacity for sustainable crop protection.

Last Name, First Name Location
Dahlin Paul Wädenswil
Hiltpold Ivan Changins

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