With a successful kick-off, the FFG-funded project CucurbitaCARE has officially started on April 10th.
The project focuses on the development of bio-based, fiber-reinforced coatings for oil pumpkin seeds, supported by biostimulants. The aim is to protect seeds against fungal infections and to strengthen pumpkin cultivation in the face of increasing challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and rising pathogen pressure.
A key focus lies on the development, upscaling, and application of bio-based material solutions, with strong emphasis on resource efficiency, circular economy principles, and industrial feasibility.
As consortium leader, the PCCL coordinates this interdisciplinary partnership, bringing together expertise from materials science, agriculture, and applied research to jointly develop sustainable and practical solutions.
Project partners:
- ALWERA AG, "ARP" Aufbereitung, Recycling und Prüftechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H, Saatzucht Gleisdorf Gesellschaft m.b.H., Graz University of Technology (Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Biobased Systems – IBioSys and Institute of Environmental Biotechnology)
- Funded by the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) represented by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), as part of the “Ressourcewende 2025” call for proposals.
