Research project for improved plant growth: "BoostCrop" receives Horizon Prize Third-party-funded project honoured by the Royal Society of Chemistry
What it's about:
Low temperatures and cold weather can slow plant growth and even lead to massive crop failures. The EU project External Link:"BoostCrop", in which the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) was also involved, addressed precisely this issue. The idea is to warm up plants using a simple and inexpensive spray. Natural molecules that can absorb sunlight and convert it into heat are the key element here. Light components in wavelengths that are either harmful to plants or not used in photosynthesis are utilised. Such "molecular heaters" could help to reduce yield losses due to cold stress, increase crop yields and enable crops to be grown successfully even in less favourable climatic regions and without the use of greenhouses.
The BoostCrop project has now successfully concluded and has been awarded the External Link:Faraday Horizon Prize. Since 2020, the Royal Society of Chemistry has awarded the Faraday Horizon Prize to research teams engaged in cutting-edge chemistry research that opens up new avenues in their field.
"Ensuring future food security in a changing climate requires the development of novel technologies in crop production," said Professor Kerry Franklin of the Royal Society at the award ceremony. "The BoostCrop project represents a great example of how international interdisciplinary collaboration can develop innovative new approaches to such challenges."
BoostCrop was an EU-funded research project aimed at developing a highly efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective leaf spray to promote plant growth and ultimately ensure sustainable nutrition. The project involved 37 scientists from the fields of chemistry, physics and biology, including BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment scientist Professor Albert Braeuning, Head of the Effect-based Analysis and Toxicogenomics Unit. As part of BoostCrop, Professor Braeuning used computer-assisted prediction methods to test the respective molecules and their by-products for potentially harmful effects on health in advance. In addition, laboratory tests were carried out with cell cultures to identify possible toxic effects such as genotoxicity or phototoxicity.