Abstract:

The project aims to introduce indigo-producing crops into European agriculture, to the long-term benefit of the rural sector and the environment. The current European market for indigo, supplied entirely by the synthetic product, amounts to 8,000 tonnes p.a.. By 2005, the project's objective is that at least 5% of the European market is met by natural indigo with a purity of >90%, grown on 20,000 hectares providing the rural sector with an income of at least 320 million euros p.a. The project will provide: seeds and an agronomic blueprint for farmers; identify among three different crops which are best for the different European regions; on-farm technologies for indigo extraction and purification; DIN dyeing standards for the product, and an environmental impact assessment. The multidisciplinary team is vertically integrated, drawing on leading academic and commercial (SME) players from the whole production chain.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Philip JOHN / University of Reading Plant Science Laboratories / UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

• Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant

• Esko POUTIAINENE / Agricultural Research Centre of Finland MTT / FINLAND
• Express Separations Ltd UNITED KINGDOM
• Luis JUAREZ ARGENTE / Fundacion Cultural y de Promocion Social Caja Rural Valencia SPAIN
• Robert BATESON / Gorham & Bateson (Agriculture) Ltd UNITED KINGDOM
• Ulla EGGERS / Livos Pflanzenchemie Forschungs und Entwicklungsgesellschaft GMBH & Co KG / GERMANY
• Armin VETTER / Thüringer Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft GERMANY
• Roc Ros PALAU / Universitat de Valencia (Estudi General) SPAIN
• Mike HOBBS / University of Bristol UNITED KINGDOM
• Antonino ONNIS / University of Pisa Dipartimento di Agronomia e Gestione dell'agrocosistema / ITALY