add-value to ORCHards through thE full valoriSaTion of macRoalgAe

add-value to ORCHards through thE full valoriSaTion of macRoalgAe
Acronym: 
ORCHESTRA
Start year: 
2020
End year: 
2023
Type of project: 
International
Principal investigator: 
CAMPOTEC IN - Conservação e Transformação de Hortofrutícolas, S.A.
MARE coordination: 
Marco Lemos
Participating Institutions: 
IPCA; Limerick Institute of Technology; Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences
Funding entity: 
FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia; FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional
State: 
Ongoing
Abstract: 

The Project called ORCHESTRA, aims to develop alternative sustainable biological practices for intensive production of Rocha pear and Alcobaça apple, as well as for the conservation and distribution of these productions. The aim of this project is to develop bio-formulations to suppress the use of synthetic chemical products/additives to combat pests and nutrient deficiency, namely through a seaweed biorefinery to provide seaweed extracts with potential for pest control, resistance induction, plant fortifiers and, finally, with the final by-product, to improve soil quality. In addition to these pre-harvest challenges, long-term preservation of fruits will also be addressed to improve shelf life during storage and the distribution chain by maximising phytonutrients.