Visit to the FIRESEA Project
- FAM Foundation
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
On October 24th, Ana Mendonça, founder of the FAM Foundation, together with Nuno Frazão, operational manager, conducted a technical visit to the FIRESEA Project. They were welcomed by Carina Costa Félix, project coordinator via MARE (Polytechnic Institute of Leiria), and João Azevedo, Technical Department Coordinator of APAS – Associação de Produtores AgrÃcolas da Sobrena.
Project Context
The rapid spread of the invasive macroalga Asparagopsis armata along Portugal’s west coast represents a significant environmental challenge for marine ecosystems — and potential risks to human health. Several studies indicate that this alga combines a high invasive potential with the release of halogenated metabolites toxic to marine biota, which can, through the food chain, generate indirect effects on the consumption of aquatic products. Additionally, the accumulation of this biomass in coastal zones may trigger decomposition processes that alter water quality, reducing dissolved oxygen and releasing volatile organic compounds — phenomena that, in other algal blooms, have been associated with respiratory and skin impacts in individuals exposed in bathing areas.
The project’s goal is to develop a sustainable plant protection product for use in Rocha pear orchards in Portugal, reducing dependence on chemical pesticides and minimizing negative environmental impacts. The FIRESEA project aims to test the bioactive potential of the invasive Asparagopsis armata as a sustainable means to combat Erwinia amylovora, the bacterium responsible for the fire blight disease in Rocha pear orchards.
Destructive Impact of Erwinia amylovora (Fire Blight)
Erwinia amylovora is the bacterium responsible for the disease known as fire blight, which affects apple, pear, and other pome fruit orchards worldwide. The disease can destroy entire trees in a single growing season, especially under favorable temperature and humidity conditions. In many countries, this pathogen is a quarantine organism, and its management entails significant costs for fruit producers.
In Portugal, the first official detection of fire blight in Rocha pear orchards occurred in 2011, with significant economic impact on this nationally valuable variety. Since then, the bacterium has affected new orchards in production areas, threatening both production and varietal biodiversity.
‘Rocha’ pear is an economic and cultural cornerstone of Portuguese fruit farming. The spread of this outbreak drastically reduces the productive lifespan of orchards if no effective response is implemented.
The fact that apple trees are also hosts increases the risk of cross-infection: although ‘Rocha’ pear is the primary concern, apple varieties may become reservoirs or secondary targets of the bacterium, thus expanding the threat to all pome fruits.
The emergence of new strains or variants adapted to local climates and varieties (as demonstrated in Portugal) suggests that control becomes more difficult and requires continuous monitoring.
The combination of disease-favourable climate (temperatures between ~21–27 °C and high humidity), pruning, harvesting, and propagation of infected plant material creates a high-risk environment for outbreaks.
Significant production losses, increased phytosanitary control costs, destruction of infected trees, and reduced fruit quality.
A clear need for investment in research to identify more tolerant varieties, epidemiological monitoring systems, and effective control methods such as predictive models or susceptibility testing.
The urgency of integrating plant health policies, technical support for producers, strengthened surveillance, and rapid communication between nurseries, growers, and authorities.
Research Activities of the Project
Due to the EU ban on antibiotics and copper-based compounds, the project aims to test the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Asparagopsis armata under field conditions, assessing its impact on infected trees, soil, and fruit — ensuring both environmental and food safety.
The project’s main activities initially focused on understanding the extract’s effect on surrounding soil over time and on the treated fruit itself, guaranteeing the safety standards needed for assessing a potential new biopesticide. In this regard, a field trial was designed in a commercial Rocha pear orchard belonging to the APAS (Associação de Produtores AgrÃcolas da Sobrena), in order to test the ethanolic extract of Asparagopsis armata on both healthy and infected pear trees. This trial aims not only to validate laboratory results but also to enable the collection of soil and fruit samples for future analysis.
This trial began in May 2025 and is fully described in the annexed documentation, including several soil sampling points over the course of exposure to the extract, as well as in the absence of treatment (control group). It also includes the harvest of fruit at the end of the season (depending on weather conditions, expected for the second half of August), for quality and yield analysis.
The research includes the extraction of bioactive compounds from Asparagopsis armata and the evaluation of their efficacy against Erwinia amylovora. Laboratory and field trials will determine the feasibility of using these compounds as biopesticides. The project foresees the development of a sustainable plant protection product that mitigates the impact of invasive species and reduces dependence on chemical pesticides.
Preliminary Results
The trial began in May 2025, in collaboration with agricultural associations and both national and international universities, with ongoing analyses of several physiological and ecological parameters. Beyond these developments, the current trial has allowed researchers to observe significant differences in the responses of plants treated with Asparagopsis armata extract when compared to infected controls. These differences include distinct symptom progression patterns, variations in leaf physiological responses, and potential signs of reduced infection severity.
Although still preliminary, these observations suggest that certain bioactive compounds present in the algae may interfere with the virulence of Erwinia amylovora, paving the way for a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments, which are currently unavailable under EU regulations. In parallel, studies are being conducted to assess the extract’s impact on the soil ecosystem — a critical point to ensure that the solution does not introduce additional risks to environmental health.
Another highlight in the project’s progress is the identified need to refine both the experimental design and field conditions to enhance the statistical robustness of the results. The team has recognized limitations stemming from the phenological cycle of pear trees, weather conditions, and natural variability in infection, all of which call for optimized protocols for the 2026 trial.
Planned refinements include increasing the number of replications, improving the characterization of microbiological parameters, and better aligning the calendar with the natural infection window. These adjustments will support a more robust validation of the Asparagopsis armata extract’s potential as a bioprotection tool, strengthening the credibility of this approach with regulatory bodies, producers, and scientific partners.
Learn more through these academic articles.
Find the key details of the preliminary results in the attached document.
The project is aligned with SDGs 2, 14, and 15, highlighting the potential of Asparagopsis armata not only as a sustainable solution for agriculture, but also as a means to mitigate the ecological impact of this invasive species on ecosystems.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.