Elvas lab leads €208,000 hunt for bacteria to fight almond tree canker

A laboratory in Elvas, InnovPlantProtect, will lead a three-year project to find a biological control for almond tree canker, caused by the fungus Diaporthe amygdali. Researchers will assemble a collection of bacteria found naturally in soils and plants across the Alentejo, Centro and Extremadura cross-border region, then test the most promising ones in the laboratory, on plants and in orchards in Portugal and Spain. The aim is an alternative to conventional fungicides. Of the €208,000 budget, nearly €150,000 comes from the Fundação "la Caixa". Work runs from November 2026 to October 2029 with INIAV, CICYTEX, two companies and the nut growers' association as partners.