Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2022 from all of us at EXCALIBUR!

In the last months INOCULUMplus analysed Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi (AMF) inside strawberry and tomato roots sent by Agroinnova, University of Copenhagen, Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije, TU Graz and other partners. Some beautiful hyphea, arbuscules, vesicules and spores captured. #teamwork #H2020

Zip them up! Researchers at University of Copenhagen study if fungal inoculations of strawberry plants can reduce spider mite attacks. Mites and eggs are counted every 3 days by observation through the zip-lock bag. #H2020 #ExcaliburProject #organic #organicstrawberry #planthealth

In the FÖKO biopesticide trial, vinasse was applied in November and December in two variants. At the end of the winter, we will check whether differences in leaf decomposition between the variants and the control plots are already apparent. #H2020 #biopesticides #planthealth

🌱 Soil is the backbone of our food security. Without healthy soils, farmers 🧑‍🌾 wouldn’t be able to provide us with feed, fiber, food, and fuel. #SOILGUARD focuses on the linkages between sustainable soil management and 🥕 food security + sustainable land management.

This season a check on the health status of strawberry plants in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy was done. During the diseases assessments, carried out by Ri.Nova (Centro Ricerche Produzioni Vegetali), some leaf spots and necrosis have been recorded on leaves. #H2020 #planthealth

Strawberry black spot is a disease caused by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. It is found in all countries where strawberries are grown. Colleagues at Centro Ricerche Produzioni Vegetali are carefully monitoring the harvest in Italy for symptoms. #H2020 #organicstrawberry

While a big part of Europe is experiencing the cold spirit of January, our partners from Centro Ricerche Produzioni Vegetali in Italy are enjoying the hug of the sun. 🌞🌞🌞 #fieldtrials #H2020 #ExcaliburProject.

The Excalibur partners come from 11 European countries and aim to develop innovative biodiversity-driven soil management options to serve as #sustainable agri-ecological prototypes for enhancing the efficacy and application of #biocontrol and #biofertilization practices. #H2020

Excalibur’s goal is to promote the use of microbial inocula in #agriculture, which interact with the indigenous community, and activate the soils hidden functional potential. This is beneficial for #soilhealth and #planthealth but also for #PlanetaryHEALTH. #H2020

EXCALIBUR is on YouTube! Our first video is live, thanks to our partners from Intermag Poland. Check out their cool lab where study many strains of bacteria and fungi that can be applied to plants to support their growth and development👉youtu.be/4dQzXY64T2c #H2020

Mice feed on apple roots... In #organic apple growing, only setting up mouse traps is allowed to regulate the mice population. Any idea for an animal friendly and environmentally conscious solution to this problem? DM us or KOB - Kompetenzzentrum Obstbau Bodensee! #H2020

EXCALIBUR press release No 5 is out now! If you want to know more about the work of Science at the Natural History Museum & NHM Botany visit our website 👉bit.ly/3B53PuT If you are interested in publishing the Press Release, DM us and we will be happy to assist! #H2020 #ExcaliburProject

The scientists at one of EXCALIBUR partners - NL Inst of Ecology have started experiments to evaluate effects of different fungal inoculations on tomato arthropod herbivores, leading to the mechanisms involved in these interactions. A lot to look forward to in 2022... #h2020

Happy Valentine's Day from our lovely BASU culture!😍BASU (Bacillus subtilis) is one of the tested microorganisms in the EXCALIBUR, only for today, it grew up heart-shaped ❤️@CREA_Ricerca Florence and Rome are analyzing together the microbial community activity, #H2020

Today is #ValentinesDay2022 😍 Today is also #BookGivingDay. Today is about getting books into the hands of as many children as possible. Find out more 👉 bookgivingday.com/about/

Olimi's Thesis committee meeting 👏 Many ways to enrich microbial diversity in #soil for #SoilHealth

In 2021 Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije EXCALIBUR team determined nematicidal & plant growth promoting activity of bacterial Bacillus strain in glasshouse and tunnel pot experiments against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne hapla infestations on strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis). #H2020

In the glass-house pot experiment by Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije bacterial strain significantly reduced nematode population which was comparable to the application of the chemical nematicide. #H2020 #planthealth #soilhealth

Soil is a living, dynamic, and precious substance that’s deeply affected by how we manage our land and resources. With the right composition, care, and natural cycling, soil supports entire ecosystems. We aim to facilitate sustainable soil management. 👉bit.ly/3tvnbrd