As part of International Day of Plant Health, the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) in Lisbon hosted a seminar highlighting innovations in sustainable crop protection. Maria João Camacho, from INIAV, presented “Innovative Sensor Technologies for Sustainable Crop Protection – Advances in In-Field Nematode Detection” emphasizing the urgent need for early and accurate detection of...

Between March 10^th and 26^th, 2025, AIRMOTEC conducted tests at the University of Neuchâtel to evaluate the current Sensor System Prototype (SSP) for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Fall Armyworm (FAW)-infested plants. The tests compared the existing SSP, which uses a standard Photon Ionization Device (PID), with a new approach incorporating a heated PID and a...

Image created by FORSAID.

The PurPest project is excited to announce its new collaboration with the FORSAID project, further strengthening our network of strategic partners. This partnership will focus on advancing sustainable agroforestry through technological innovation, contributing to higher standards in pest control. Additionally, PurPest continues to build strong ties with several key...

On March 12, 2025, Luís Bonifácio presented his research within the PurPest project at the GREEN-IT Plant Interaction Meeting in Portugal. His talk, The Development of innovative biotechnical control methods for agricultural and forest pests, explored Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, highlighting biotechnical solutions. Focusing on Pine Wilt Disease, a major threat to forestry, and...

Leaders and members from the PurPest, COMPAS, REACT, and BeXyl projects held a joint digital meeting to strengthen and formalize their collaborations. Discussions focused on synergies and common interests, identifying shared topics, opportunities, and future steps to maintain and expand our international cooperation network.

BIOFACH is the world's leading organic food trade fair, and the 2025 edition takes place from 11 to 14 February at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center in Germany. Along with 2.500 exhibitors from 90 countries, Jürgen G. and Ali Karimi from the Julius Kühn-Institut present PurPest EU and other innovative research projects in sustainable plant...

PurPest was discussed in the latest episode of the I See Dead Plants podcast, titled Nematode Nightmare: The Worldwide Impact of Pine Wilt Disease Part 2. Leading experts explore the complex nature of Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) and the importance of research and innovation in tackling this serious threat to forests. The PurPest project was mentioned as an innovative and advanced...

The PurPest project has been highlighted in the European Commission’s AgriResearch Factsheet, recognizing its key role in tackling plant pest outbreaks through advanced monitoring and site-specific control technologies. The publication underscores the increasing challenges to plant health posed by global trade, climate change, and the rapid spread of pests and diseases. With a strong commitment...

Ted Turlings, from the University of Neuchâtel (UNINE), recently traveled to Mexico to collect volatile organic compounds from maize plants infested with the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, and healthy control plants. The objective is to determine if we could capture caterpillar-induced volatiles under natural field conditions and without enclosing the plants in...