INNOVATION

GENERAL
Users indicate a specific crop protection problem. A case-manager is assigned based on the crop protection problem indicated. The case manager develops together with the user an appropriate research strategy fitting its’ needs. Each of the case managers is an expert of specific crops and their pests and diseases. A research strategy includes one, or more, of three major building blocks of a strategy: (i) use of plant sources and extractions, (ii) exploring extracts and compounds for plant protection efficacy, and (iii) exploring efficacious extractions and compounds for safety and food quality.
ACHIEVEMENTS
RUNNING R&D PROJECT
The project ‘Efficacious and sustainablle production of Dutch ornamentals for cosmetics, a demonstration’ is running. It is funded by the Dutch, private, foundation ‘Innovatiefonds Hagelunie’. The project is set-up and executed by the research institution Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as a member of EUPLANTCROPP, and the German companies MagnifiScent and NATECO2.
The cosmetics industry is in need of sustainably-produced natural fragrances of high quality. Dutch horticulture needs new business models, especially with respect to ornamentals. The production of highly-valued plant compounds for comsetics offers an interesting new busniness model.
We aim at producing a high-quality absolute, which means the purest form of an essential oil out of iris, freesia and tulip respectively. The production will be based on, pesticide-free growth of the crops by Dutch growers, sustainable carbon dioxide based Super Critical Fluid Extraction from NATECO2, and a quality evalution by way of both, the master-perfuner of MagnifiScent and metablomics by WUR. WUR also takes care of the overall supervision.
We will deliver both a suite of samples of excellent absolute of iris, freesia an tulip respectively, and validated protocols to produce these efficaciously. We will discuss the opportunities of Dutch ornamentals with representatives of European fragrance and cosmetics companies based on high-quality samples. These discussions will result in a business strategy of Dutch horticulture as a source of the European cosmetics industry.


STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
We have two R&D-projects running for members of EUPLANTCROPP. This marks the beginning of a continous flow of projects, which are initiated by the needs of both private and public users.
EUPLANTCROPP greatly acknowledges the start-up support of University of Salerno
EUPLANTCROPP greatly acknowledges the start-up support of Czech University of Life Sciences
EUPLANTCROPP greatly acknowledges the start-up support of Wageningen University & Research (NL)
EUPLANTCROPP greatly acknowledges the start-up support of Holland Rijnland (NL)