DIMAS

Objective

The overall objective of DIMAS is to develop methods to reduce the impact of many agricultural pests with a strong impact in the Valencian Community through two main lines of work: on the one hand, improving the efficacy of natural extracts intended to be used as an alternative to synthetic pesticides, which are increasingly limited by legislation; and, on the other hand, combating the proliferation of insects, which are often the vectors for the transmission of these pests. For this reason, the project focuses on two types of active ingredients: natural extracts, as biocontrol agents, and pheromones, for the sexual confusion of the insects that transmit these pests.

Actividades

Development of modified materials for foliar adhesion and penetration
Development of structures for controlled release in soil
Development of adjuvants and surface modifiers for aqueous formulations: alternatives to synthetic surfactants
Dissemination and communication
Technology transfer
Management and coordination

Results

Modified nanocellulose, obtained from rice husk, to give it hydrophobic properties.
Formulations based on hydrophobised nanocellulose, together with adjuvants, incorporating a natural extract for use in foliar applications.
Targeted delivery systems to plant cells in leaves based on microcapsules of a natural extract encapsulated in a matrix of hydrophobised nanocellulose and starch, surface-modified through the incorporation of cell-penetrating peptides.
Formulations based on mesoporous silica materials incorporating a natural extract for use in delayed-release applications in agriculture.
Hydrogels based on kappa carrageenan, which were subsequently used as a support for the generation of a controlled-release pheromone system.
Microencapsulation of pheromones to provide protection against environmental degradation and facilitate their handling for subsequent incorporation into the kappa carrageenan hydrogel matrix.
Optimised synthetic route from esters, using lactic acid as a versatile platform to obtain renewable, biodegradable surfactants with a modulable structure.
Production of biosurfactants from yeast, using coconut oil and sugars as substrates.