Objectifs et axes de développement

As part of the actions carried out by the Digibiocontrol IIS, an in-depth understanding of partners' needs is essential to proposing concrete, innovative solutions, and exploring how digital technology could meet them. So, in addition to one-to-one meetings with individual companies, IIS Digibiocontrol has set up four working groups focusing on biocontrol products. During these sessions, digital innovations were presented to stimulate reflection on the possibilities for overcoming the obstacles currently holding back the development and use of these products. These working groups, which took place from May to July 2024, brought together between 10 and 20 participants per session.

Objectives:

- Promote networking between IIS partners

- Identify obstacles to the development and use of biocontrol products

- Discuss possible levers for meeting identified needs

- Explore opportunities offered by digital innovations

Five main areas of development (see tabs):

1. The need for more accessible tools for in silico screening, in particular using docking.

2. Automation of production lines, both for products and for the production of raw materials such as beneficial micro-organisms.

3. Development of more universal data collection systems and Decision Support Tools (DSTs) to reduce the number of interfaces required and facilitate choice for farmers.

4. Support for the use of biocontrol products (Phytolicence).

5. Development of training programs combining knowledge of biocontrol and digital tools, aimed at both students (future employees) and end-users.

The Digibiocontrol IIS now wishes to raise these issues in order to collaborate with its current partners, as well as with other bodies, to envisage Walloon-wide solutions to these challenges.