The BIOVEXO project, in which researchers from the Toxicology Area of the University of Seville participate, led by Dr. Angeles Jos, has recently started and has funding from the European Union of 6.6 million euros, with the aim of establishing, selecting and validating sustainable and high performance biopesticides that have been shown to be effective against the pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterium threatens to destroy olive and almond orchards in Europe.
Since 2013, the spread of Xylella has increased rapidly in Spain and Italy due to its transmission by an insect vector. This pathogen seriously damages and often destroys the olive grove within a few years, producing the so-called olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Europe is in danger of losing its olive crops unless solutions are found to combat the bacteria. Although there are already some products on the market, there are still no pesticides that have been scientifically proven effective against Xylella, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Xylella is spreading to other crops, such as the almond tree, where Spain, and in particular Mallorca, have been seriously affected. This pathogenic bacterium has also been found in France, Portugal, and even Israel, highlighting the threat it poses to Mediterranean agriculture.
Across Europe, Xylella is expected to cause substantial losses of 35-70% of crop yield in olive groves and 13% in almond trees. Two million tonnes of olive oil production is potentially at risk in Europe unless an effective treatment for the bacteria is found.
To date, there is no organic solution on the market to combat the devastation caused by Xylella, so it is urgent to develop sustainable biopesticides to combat the spread of the disease.