WORK PACKAGE 3
Improvement of crop and food protection

Objective
The overall objective of WP3 is to introduce, in the target areas of both regions, the use of economically-affordable, socially-acceptable and environmentally-friendly IPDM packages for key crops through the adaptation and implementation of innovative technologies and collaborative research.
TASKS
3.1
Establishing a Remote PLANT HEAlth Diagnostic (PLANTHEAD) network in Eastern and Western Africa
The present Task aims at implementing a remote PLANT HEAlth Diagnostic (PLANTHEAD) network in Africa to promote real time diagnosis and environment-friendly crop protection approaches in resource-constrained environments lacking the organizational and/or the sociotechnical system resources to cope with food insecurity issues.
3.3
Retrieving plant protection traditional knowledge
This task aims to identify and synthesize a range of best practices involved in building innovative knowledge transfer systems based on an enhanced use of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) and resulting from a synergic integration of practical and scientific knowledge related to IPDM and resources management.
3.2
Developing and adopting simple, rapid and inexpensive new ICT-based tools for detection and quantification of plant pests and pathogens
This task aims to adapt and develop rapid and innovative ICT-based diagnostic tools for the early detection of plant pests and pathogens in crops, food and feed commodities. The first validation testing of PLANTHEAD shall be based on diagnostic images, while further on, during the project implementation, these tools shall be adopted and tested for field feasibility
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3.4
Developing effective pre- and post-harvest management strategies to avoid mycotoxin contamination in stored food and feed
This task aims to adapt and develop rapid and innovative ICT-based diagnostic tools for the early detection of plant pests and pathogens in crops, food and feed commodities. The first validation testing of PLANTHEAD shall be based on diagnostic images, while further on, during the project implementation, these tools shall be adopted and tested for field feasibility