Main Objective of the Project

INSECTFRASS Project

INSECTFRASS is a research project focused on advancing sustainable agricultural practices through the development of innovative, environmentally friendly pest control solutions. The project addresses the growing need to reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides by exploring nature-based and circular-economy approaches.

Specifically, INSECTFRASS aims at the development of environmentally friendly, sustainable, and natural pest control tools that employ biowaste products—namely frass, including its associated microbial communities and bioactive compounds—to combat key agricultural pests. By valorising biowaste streams, the project seeks to contribute to integrated pest management strategies, environmental protection, and the long-term sustainability of agricultural production systems.

Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration, INSECTFRASS generates scientific knowledge and practical outcomes with the potential to support farmers, researchers, and policy makers in the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems.

INSECTFRASS follows a multidisciplinary approach to reach the following objectives:

Identify

Identify and characterize different IFs produced by different insect species fed with different diets and their microbiome or microbial communities that induce direct and indirect plant resistance/tolerance to aboveground arthropod pests, the latter via enhanced attraction of natural enemies.

Understand

Understand the molecular and chemical mechanisms underlying the plant-mediated effects of frass/microbial communities on host plant defence to biotic stressors.

Evaluate

Evaluate the potential of IF as soil amendment with plant protection capabilities.

INSECTFRASS Project

INSECTFRASS Work Packages (WP)

  • WP 1

Insect Frass-induced plant resistance to herbivory

WP1 aims to study tomato defense elicitation by the application of IF, to determine the most effective IF, and identify mechanisms and insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).

  • WP 3
Insect frass characterization

WP3 aims to characterize the different IFs used.

  • WP 5
Dissemination and Communication Management

WP5 addresses the dissemination and communication activities of the INSECTFRASS project and its outputs and outcomes, both inside and outside the research group.

  • WP 2
Cry-for help’ induced by insect frass application

WP2 aims to assess the effects of IF on the performance and behaviour of natural enemies and study the mechanisms involved in tomato indirect resistance after IF application.

  • WP 4
Efficacy in the greenhouse

WP4 investigates the effects of IF application on herbivores as well on crop performance under greenhouse conditions.

  • WP 6
Project Management

WP6 consists of all management and coordination tasks of the project such as oversight of technical and financial activities, management of communication within the research group, reporting on a periodic basis, anticipating problems, managing risks and recommending corrective actions as necessary.