Innovative Solutions for Reducing Copper-Based Pesticides in Sustainable Agriculture: The LIFE MICROFIGHTER Project

Copper (Cu) is one of the seven essential micronutrients for plants, but its intensive use as a pesticide in agriculture, especially in organic and integrated production systems, has led to its progressive accumulation in European soils. This phenomenon poses a serious threat to soil biodiversity, water quality, and human health. Despite EU regulations limiting copper inputs to a maximum of 28 kg/ha over seven years (an average of 4 kg/ha/year), a significant amount of copper-based pesticides is still widely used, as they remain essential for controlling numerous fungal and bacterial diseases. However, their accumulation in soils and sediments has become an unsustainable environmental issue, particularly in Italy, Greece, France, and Spain, where agricultural land contamination is particularly high. The LIFE MICROFIGHTER project proposes an innovative solution to reduce or replace copper-based pesticides by demonstrating the efficacy of a new Zeo-Biopesticide, applied as a foliar treatment, composed of natural Italian zeolites (potassium chabazite) and a specific biocontrol microorganism (Pseudomonas sp. DLS65). The goal is to control major pathogens of grapevine, tomato, and olive (including downy mildew, bacterial speck, bacterial spot, olive knot, and peacock spot), exploiting Zeo-Biopesticide and hence reducing or avoiding the use of copper in organic and integrated agricultural systems. The efficacy of the method will be demonstrated with field trials (2-3 years duration) in Italy, Croatia, and Spain (a total of 9 fields).

The specific objectives of the project includes: i) reducing copper inputs in agricultural soils from an average of 4 kg/ha/year to 2 kg/ha/year without compromising crop yield and quality, with the potential for complete copper replacement; ii) demonstrating a reduction in total soil copper concentration while promoting increased soil biodiversity; iii) raising awareness among farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders about the environmental and health risks associated with copper-based pesticides, and promoting the adoption of the Zeo-Biopesticide as an effective and sustainable alternative; iv) conducting environmental monitoring campaigns, life cycle analysis (LCA), and developing a business plan to assess the economic and environmental sustainability of the new technology.

To evaluate the effect of the zeo-biopesticide on copper reduction, copper concentrations in soils, both bioavailable and total, are determined in the first and third years of sampling through ICP-MS analysis. Additionally, other soil physico-chemical parameters, such as organic matter content, pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity, will be measured to assess their correlation with copper concentrations. For better data visualization, distribution maps of total and bioavailable copper concentrations will be created for the different experimental fields. Currently, after one year of the project, the baseline has been established, and the corresponding distribution maps have been prepared. These data will be compared with those obtained after the second sampling to evaluate the actual reduction in copper and, consequently, the effectiveness of the zeo-biopesticide.