Abstract
The European Green Deal is the EU’s latest growth strategy and action plan, which will meet the challenges concerning climate change and environmental degradation. The components of the Green Deal which are intended to prevent biodiversity loss, to reduce pollution level, and to improve food quality are: The Farm to Fork Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy. Their main aims include: Reducing the application of pesticides by 50% by 2030, reducing nutrients loss by 50% while preserving soil fertility, reducing the application of mineral fertilizers by a minimum of 20% by 2030, as well as supporting the development of organic farming to reach 25% of all the arable land in the EU. These aims are very ambitious and they pose a serious challenge. Can the European Green Deal provide an opportunity for fungal grass endophytes? This paper presented different aspects in which endophytes of the Epichloë genus affect colonized plants, as well as their possible applications in biological grass protection and in improving the performance properties of different grass biotopes. Literature was reviewed to provide evidence of how fungal endophytes might be used to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal strategy, in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture.
Highlights
Grassland ecosystems play a significant role in both human life and economy
This paper presented different aspects in which endophytes of the Epichloë genus affect colonized plants, as well as their possible applications in biological grass protection and in improving the performance properties of different grass biotopes
Literature was reviewed to provide evidence of how fungal endophytes might be used to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal strategy, in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture
Summary
Grassland ecosystems play a significant role in both human life and economy. They are an element of our agricultural landscape, as permanent grasslands, which constitute about 25% of the global land mass. A gradual reduction of grassland areas has been observed in Europe. Recent decades have seen the development of environmental awareness amongst Europeans, as shown by their concern over the state of our natural environment. This includes their interest in more sustainable systems for intensive agricultural production. A gradual increase of grass importance can be seen in the non-agricultural sector This is related to the intensive urban and infrastructural development observed in recent times. The components of the Green Deal, which are intended to prevent biodiversity loss, to reduce pollution levels, and to improve food quality, were the strategies presented on
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