The Project
Project Coordination & Management
AgriTexSil has a clear management structure to assure implementation of the scientific activities that includes a project coordinator from each country and a project steering committee (PSC). The project coordinators (ITA: Dr M Orth; UTH: Dr N Katsoulas) will be responsible for the overall coordination of the project including technical aspects of project management. The Project Steering Committee (PSC) will exert the high-level management of the project on both scientific and administrative aspects.
Timeline
Project starting date: 27/3/2018
Budget
| Participant Name | Total costs | Rate of finance (%) | Public funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITA | 255726,84 | 100% | 255726,8 |
| UTH | 132500 | 100% | 132500 |
| P&S | 201250 | 50% | 100625 |
| Thrace | 219000 | 65% | 142350 |
| Total | 808476,84 | 631201,8 |
Implementation – Work Packages
WP1
Leader: ITA
Management and coordination
Objectives: To successfully coordinate the project
WP2
Leader: ITA
Melt spinning of fibres for agrotextiles
Objectives: Development of coated fibres
WP3
Leader: P&S
Coating of fibres
Objectives: Development of a reproducible stable coating process inline the fibre production
WP4
Leader: Thrace
Textile prototyping
Objectives: Production of woven fabric
WP5
Leader: P&S
Development of a Textile coating process
Objectives: Coating process of textiles
WP6
Leader: Thrace
Large scale fabrication of coated textiles
Objectives: In-line coating of non-woven textiles
WP7
Leader: UTH
Textile evaluation
Objectives: To evaluate (i) the aerodynamic and optical properties of the produced screen materials, (ii) the performance of the produced screen materials in the field concerning their effects in insects control and crop production and quality in crops under cover.
WP8
Leader: Thrace
Dissemination
Objectives: To broadly disseminate the results of the project
Expected scientific results
Through this project the development of textiles for active bug protection against insects is given. Within the development, ITA will gain further knowledge on fibre spinning for coatable fibre. This will include in detail:
- Spinning process without use of spin finish,
- Spinning of fineness from 500 to 1000 denier and count of 100 to 150 filaments,
- Tenacity around 6 – 7gr/den, Elongation 20%-25%,
- PP, polypropylene,
- Shrinkage of 0% – 7% at 120°C for 2 min.
P&S, currently an expert on coating plane and porous surfaces, will gain knowledge and machinery on fibre coating (coating of very thin and circular substrates):
- Process to coat fibre homogeneously to 50%,
- Process to coat textile surfaces homogeneously to 70%,
- Introduction of alternative energy sources for the melting process,
- Advanced expertise with coatings in the industry standard.
Thrace will expand their portfolio of available textiles and will gain expertise in the textile manufacturing from coated fibres. UTH will apply AgriTexSil screens in pilot greenhouse conditions. The scientific results will lead to better design of the screens and adapted crop techniques, in order to ultimately increase growers’ profitability with minimum impact on the environment. The final result of this AgriTexSil will be the evaluated screen, which is coated by the process developed in AgriTexSil. The functionality of the textile to kill bugs will be proven.
Project outlook
Utilization of the Results The results of AgriTexSil will be made available through the reports of the project and other publications. Publications will include scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals. Contributions will also be submitted to German and Greek professional relative journals and to professional conferences in the field of agro textiles and horticulture. The project website will inform about project activities and results and provide information for both, scientists and practitioners. The participating companies are expected to develop new exportable products (e.g. screen materials), to improve their know-how and to strengthen their market leadership. A patent might be a feasible if the findings support it. Research institutions benefit by participating in a state-of-the art research and producing highly skilled personnel such as Ph.D. candidates and by disseminating their results to the society, the markets and the scientific community. Cooperation between Greek and German R&D centres and companies under the scope of this project, will lead to an extensive knowledge exchange related to technology transfer, covering the entire product development chain. Greece needs to put more emphasis on R&D and focus on internal and external knowledge transfer and diversification into related activities for a sustained economic development strategy. German know-how will contribute on this direction. Moreover, the extended presence and knowledge of Greek institutes and companies in agricultural sector will be incorporated in the advanced technological aspects of German research and industrial experience for development of innovative and more competitive products.