EncARNa: New Ecologic Transition Grant Awarded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation

Good news! Our team has been awarded a two-year grant by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation in the context of the "Strategic Projects Oriented to the Ecologic and Digital Transition".

Our project, with acronym EncARNa, will deal with the "Encapsulation of Agrochemically Relevant Compounds linked to the Valorization of Natural Waste".

EncARNa,coordinated by out team at the Institute of Materials Science of the University of Valencia (ICMUV), is divided in two subprojects. The first, leaded by Rafael Muñoz-Espí and Mario Culebras, focuses on the development of encapsulation strategies of agrochemical agents (plant protection products, bioestimulants, and fertilizers) with biopolymers, such as lignin or cellulose. The work with be conducted in collaboration with colleagues from the Polythechnic University of Valencia and an agronomy team of the University of Almeria , which will provide the necessary expertise to select suitable relevant compounds of agricultural interest and to study their delivery mechanisms in plants. The second subproject, leaded by Chelo Escrig from the Technological Institute of Plastics (AIMPLAS), will address the practical application of the materials prepared in the first subproject. The aim here is to incorporate lignin/cellulose micro- or submicrocapsules prepared at ICMUV into novel formulations of biodegradable mulch films based on lignin with controlled release of plant protection products.

We are very excited about this new project.