Biomasses, biowastes and byproducts can be valorized to significantly reduce diseases caused by soil-borne pathogens and increase soil and plant health.

The research group on valorization of biomasses and wastes for sustainable crop protection carries out applied research including the following topics:

• development of products (biofungicides, biofertilizers, biostimulants…) to be used for controlling plant pathogens based on the valorization of biomasses, wastes and by-products;
• development of sustainable crop protection strategies for controlling plant pathogens based on the use of biomasses, wastes and by-products before or after their valorization into novel products (compost, digestate, biochar…);
• study the effects of biomasses, wastes, byproducts and their transformation products (compost, digestate, biochar…) on the control of plant pathogens and their mechanisms of action.

Recently the group worked on the effects of compost, digestates, biochar, byproducts from biorefineries, agrofood wastes (rice husk and bran, coffee and tea wastes, nut shells, vegetable and fruit processing wastes), showing suppressive effects against soil-borne plant pathogens and developing guidelines for their valorization within a circular economy approach.

The research group worked also on the selection of microrganisms and biological control agents from suppressive materials like compost and by-products from biorefineries, and on their identification, evaluation of efficacy and mechanisms of action.
The activities carried out and the results achieved led to the start of the ex spin-off company AgriNewTech.

Insights
Agroinnova
AgriNewTech

• Closing waste water cycles for nutrient recovery (WALNUT). European Union Horizon2020, RUR-2020-2, Contract number: 101000752. Partner. 2021-2025.
• Exploiting the multifunctional potential of belowground biodiversity in horticultural farming (EXCALIBUR). European Union Horizon 2020, SFS-2018-2, Contract number: 817946. Partner. 2019-2024.
• Processi di EstRazione di bioprodotti da sCarti agroIndustriali e VALorizzazione in cascata (PERCIVAL). PON Ricerca e Innovazione 2014–2020, MUR, Cluster nazionale chimica verde. Partner. 2023-2025.
• Biodiversità e salute delle piante (BIO SAL). Fondazione Compangia di San Paolo, Bando SIMBIOSI. Partner. 2023-2025.
• Management models to promote sustainability and resilience of agricultural production systems. Spoke 6 - Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4 – D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022). Co-coordinator of Task 6.2.3 (Development/validation of the circular systems for their capacity to reverse climate change, increase bioeconomy and protect air, water and soil and plant quality and health).
• Processi e pRodotti Innovativi di chiMica vErde (PRIME). Piattaforma Tecnologica "Bioeconomia" Regione Piemonte. Partner. 2019-2022.
• Circular Health for Industry “CH4I”. Fondazione Compagnia San Paolo, Bando Intelligenza Artificiale 2020. Coordinatore of sub-project n°2 on agro-food industry. 2021-2023.
• Nutrient Management and Nutrient Recovery Thematic Network (NUTRIMAN). European Union Horizon 2020, RUR-15-2018, Thematic networks compiling knowledge ready for practice. Contract number: 818470. Partner. 2018-2021.
• Improvement of comprehensive bio-waste transformation and nutrient recovery treatment processes for production of combined natural products (REFERTIL). EU FP7 Project. Grant Agreement n. 289785. Partner. 2011-2015.
• Recycling and upgrading of bone meal for environmentally friendly crop protection and nutrition (PROTECTOR). EU FP6 Project. Grant Agreement n. 514082. Partner. 2005-2009.
• Sviluppo di sistemi e tecnologie innovative per la produzione, conservazione, trasformazione e valorizzazione dell’orto‐frutticoltura piemontese di qualità (SAFEFOODCONTROL). Piattaforma Regione Piemonte. Coordinatore. 2010-2013
• Ricerca e innovazione per il miglioramento della sostenibilità della filiera agroalimentare (ECOFOOD). Piattaforma Regione Piemonte. Partner. 2010-2013.
• Sviluppo di polimeri a partire da monomeri ottenuti da fonti rinnovabili. Messa a punto di prodotti monouso biodegradabili e compostabili (AGROBIOCAT). Poli di Innovazione Regione Piemonte. Partner. 2010-2013.
• Sviluppo ed utilizzo integrato di tecnologie e prodotti chimici innovativi per il settore agricolo, ornamentale e paesaggistico (BIOTURF). Poli di Innovazione Regione Piemonte. Coordinatore. 2011-2014
• Sviluppo di nuove molecole/prodotti a residuo zero per la gestione sostenibile della difesa di colture ortofrutticole (ECOMOL). Poli di Innovazione Regione Piemonte. Coordinatore. 2011-2014
• Sviluppo di nuovi materiali a base di membrane poliuretaniche adatte ai settori medico e agricolo (MEDICAGRO-FIR). Poli di Innovazione Regione Piemonte. Partner. 2012-2014

• Arizzi M., Morra S., Gilardi G., Pugliese M., Gullino M. L., Valetti F. (2021). Improving sustainable hydrogen production from green waste: [FeFe]-hydrogenases quantitative gene expression RT-qPCR analysis in presence of autochthonous consortia. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14(1), 182
• Bellini A., Gilardi G., Idbella M., Zotti M., Pugliese M., Bonanomi G., Gullino M. L. - (2023) - Trichoderma enriched compost, BCAs and potassium phosphite control Fusarium wilt of lettuce without affecting soil microbiome at genus level. Applied Soil Ecology, 182 (4), 104678
• Bellini A., Ferrocino I., Cucu M. A., PUGLIESE M., Garibaldi A., Gullino M. L.(2020). A compost treatment acts as a suppressive agent in Phytophthora capsici – cucurbita pepo pathosystem by modifying the rhizosphere microbiota. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 885-898
• Bellini A., Pugliese M., Guarnaccia V., Meloni G.R., Gullino M.L. (2021). Calcium oxide, potassium phosphite and a Trichoderma enriched compost water suspension protect Capsicum annuum against Phytophthora capsici by priming the immune system. Pest Management Science, 77 (7), 3484–3490.
• Cristina G., Camelin E., Fraterrigo Garofalo S., Salomone F., Pugliese M., Gullino M.L., Fino D. (2022) - Time-based evaluation of bioavailable phosphorus in a calcareous soil after the application of anaerobically digested sewage sludge. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, doi:10.1007/s13399-022-02315-5

Ing. Edward Someus, Terra Humana Clean Technology Development, Engineering and Manufacturing Ltd (Hungary)
Agricultural University of Athene (Greece)
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation (EPPO), Paris (France)
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRAE), Paris (France)
Research Institute of Horticulture, Skierniewice (Poland)
University of Wageningen (Netherlands).
CARTIF Technology Center (Spain)
ENEA (Italy)
CREA (Italy)
Polytechnic of Turin (Italy)