Black soldier fly oil - BSF (Hermetia illucens) in the control of diseases and plant pathogens

• Grant number: 24/17509-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Karina Elaine de Moura
• Grantee: Karina Elaine de Moura
• Company: Buzz Fly P&D em Alimentação Animal S/A
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Associated researchers: Paulo Mazzafera

Abstract

With the growing need for sustainable alternatives to combat plant diseases, especially due to the negative environmental impact of conventional pesticides, with their intensive use being criticized globally, BSF oil offers a promising solution. BSF oil is notable for its high content of medium-chain fatty acids, especially lauric acid, which may represent around 45% of its total composition. Lauric acid is recognized for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, which makes BSF oil a potential agent in controlling plant diseases, in addition to degrading quickly in the environment, reducing contamination risks, combined with the fact that it creates larvae in organic substrates contributes to sustainable waste management. Preliminary studies indicate that lauric acid can inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, such as Phytophthora sojae and Blumeria graminis.The objective of this project is to verify the effectiveness of this oil in controlling plant diseases, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides, contributing to more sustainable agriculture. The project foresees a research plan with experiments using tomato and pepper crops, with tests of preventive and curative efficacy of BSF oil against selected pathogens. (AU)