Tree extracts act as fungicide

The aim of the PROLARIX (Botanical plant protection agent from Larix by-products) project was to turn research into the use of bioextracts from forest by-products into a viable business model for European small businesses in forestry and the agricultural sector. The initiative will facilitate the commercial exploitation of Larix extracts as a plant protection product (PPP).

Constituents of Larix (larch) by-products, known as Larixyne, were shown to have potential as a fungicide by the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) project FORESTSPECS. They are highly effective against major agricultural diseases, with low environmental impact. They also have considerable potential for generating added value in the forest industry and European production of smart crop protection technologies.

Bringing potential PPPs to market requires considerable investment in the form of registration and market development. For these reasons, it is vital to provide the necessary information in order to predict the size of the investment and the time needed for registration of a novel PPP under EU legislation.

Researchers will identify an economically and technically feasible formulation of the Larix extract, resulting in a final product to be brought to market. The Larix extract will be tested under a wide range of conditions on grapevines to get an understanding of its potential and limitations under real-world conditions. Its use on organic grapevines will also provide information on ease of use and compatibility with good farming practice in grapevine crop protection.

Moreover, by evaluating the effect of the Larix extract on additional target crops, researchers will be able to identify additional market opportunities in the form of different crops and diseases. The information gained through PROLARIX will form the basis of a roadmap for registration and the introduction of Larix extract into the market.