A team of researchers coordinated by Vincent Lionetti of the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Sapienza has developed innovative green chemistry approaches to recycling the residues from the mills, such as olive pomace, transforming them into natural plant protection agents ed in particular of Xylella.
“The extracts obtained – explains Lionetti – They also act as natural activators of plant immunity, stimulating innate defense mechanisms and enhancing the ability of plants to deal with infections.”
The project, which resulted in two studies published in prestigious scientific journals, also saw the involvement of theInstitute for sustainable plant protection of the CNR of Bari, the companies Agrolio and Bioenutra, as well as Spanish and Danish universities.
“Preparing the immune system – we read in a note from Sapienza – The identified natural extracts are configured as an ecological alternative to chemical pesticides, thus helping to reduce the environmental impact of synthetic solutions and supporting more nature-friendly agricultural practices. Some of these bioactive compounds have shown significant antimicrobial properties, proving particularly effective against pathogens, such as Xylella fastidiosa, or also Pseudomonas syringae e Botrytis cinerea. These pathogens attack various plant species, causing symptoms such as rotting, wilting and, in some cases, serious drying out that threaten crops of enormous value, as happened to the olive trees of Puglia”.
The project, recalls the note from the Roman university, was developed starting from the awareness that the growing global production of olive oil has brought with it significant environmental challenges: the waste generated by the mills, in fact, is sometimes not disposed of in a controlled way, causing damage to the soil and compromising microbial health due to the high content of tannins and phenolic compounds. The sustainable management of agricultural waste therefore becomes fundamental for environmental protection.
“This innovation therefore offers new opportunities to use the by-products of olive mills, transforming agricultural residues into valuable tools for the integrated management of various parasites – states Lionetti – furthermore, it promotes a sustainable circular economy in the agro-industrial sector, helping to reduce the use of pesticides harmful to human health and the environment”.
References:
Upcycling olive pomace into pectic elicitors for plant immunity and disease protection – Greco M., Kouzounis D., Fuertes-Rabanal M., Gentile M., Agresti S., Schols HA, Mélida H. and Lionetti V – Plant Physiology and Biochemistry ( 2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109213
