PHAntastic
PHAntastic is a four-year (2025 to 2027) international EU project involving 16 parties from Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Belgium, Sweden and the Netherlands. PHantastic was initiated by a Spanish company. The first goal is to make biofoam as a potting soil substitute with properties specific to each crop. The second goal is to make biodegradable mulch films (a technique for covering the soil with a film).
Agrochemicals (i.e. fertilizers and pesticides) are responsible for the doubling of crop yields in the past century. However, they have several negative consequences for the environment and human health. To reduce their effects, the EU aims to reduce the losses and use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides by 50% by 2030. Controlled, polymer-based delivery systems that prevent agrochemical losses (e.g. leaching, volatilization) are available. However, they are based on non-biodegradable polymers and cause plastic pollution. Other agricultural plastics (mulch films and growth foam) are used to maintain an optimal plant environment and to prevent agrochemical damage, minimizing the amounts to be applied. However, they also result in considerable amounts of non-biodegradable plastics being released into the environment.
PHAntastic tackles the reduction of pollution from agrochemicals and plastics with the help of PHAs, a family of biobased biodegradable polymers. PHAntastic will develop two families of delivery systems (mulch films and growth foams) based on PHAs with active bioproducts (amino acids and hydrolyzed proteins, microelements, elicitors and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) instead of synthetic agrochemicals. Products will be demonstrated with end users (TRL6) on horticultural crops and trees in Northern and Southern Europe. Experts in the field of sustainability and food safety will guarantee compliance.
Delphy Research Nursery for Arboriculture and Perennial Cultivation in Hazerswoude Dorp will work with Greenport Boskoop Region and St. Agatha-Bergen to test biofoam for the arboriculture sector. Tests with biodegradable mulch films will be carried out in Zwaagdijk.
PHAntastic will contribute to a reduction of agrochemicals (at least 25% in fertilizers, 50% in pesticides, resulting in 23,000 tons less agrochemicals by 2050) and plastic (680 tons less microplastics in 2050) in our agricultural systems. PHAntastic will thus contribute to a safe food chain and a lower-impact agriculture that increases the sustainability, autonomy and competitiveness of vital EU value chains.
Financed by the European Union under Grant Agreement 101130073.
