Abstract:

This paper presents an example of interdisciplinary cooperation between scientific research, education and industry to develop innovative products.
The BIO-PLANT-Protect project is a European cooperation between research, education and industry from Romania and Poland to capitalize animal and vegetal waste in circular agriculture and to develop new bio-fungicides compositions with bivalent activity: protection against pathogens and bio-stimulation of germination and growth of plants.
The general objective of BIO-PLANT-Protect project is achieved through appropriate capitalization of vegetal waste from Solanaceae family and leather industry by-products - fertilizers resulting from protein extracts (collagen, keratin), associated with Camelina sativa oil and bio-active compounds from Asteraceae / Fabaceae family.
The project generates the knowledge transfer between academic, research and industry, the involvement of young specialists in applied research and the innovation capacity extension oriented to products and technologies, as well as large scale dissemination of results. Through its complex, inter-related activities, the project generates innovation in bioeconomy, in the agrifood system, developing a double action product (protection for plants and stimulation of agricultural production), as well as treatment schemes adapted to pest control and amplification of germination, specifically designed for their applicability domain (apple orchards, tomato seeds). The innovative character is anchored in scientific priorities and European Union requirements (Directive 782/2019), regarding the minimize of harmful substances in agriculture. The concept of this project brings concrete and feasible innovative solutions by: (i) exploiting the bioactive potential of indigenous natural compounds; (ii) optimized technologies - cost-effectiveness and significant performances improvement; (iii) new prototype-amplified fungicide efficacy due to active compounds profile and ratio, for a complex spectrum of pathogens; (iv) new treatment schemes for two stages of plants’ development, vegetation and seeds. The feasibility is supported by the interdisciplinarity between partners: SC BIOTEHNOS SA Romania - research for isolation and characterization of actives, in vitro studies, formulation and field testing; National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather, Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute Romania - research in capitalisation of proteinic nutrients extracts, with the involvement of doctoral young researchers and doctoral students in research activity; University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine, Bucharest, Romania - excellence in phytopathology, with the involvement of students and master's students in research activities; RESEARCH NETWORK ŁUKASIEWICZ Institute of Leather Industry, Łódź, Poland - recovery of collagen hydrolysates in phyto-treatments and specific analysis; Pestila II, Wolborz, Poland - pesticide production and marketing capacity at European level.
The complementary experience and expertise of the consortium research-education-industry ensure a complete cycle of innovative products development and validation.

Keywords:

Research, education, industry, cooperation, innovation, knowledge transfer.