DELIVERABLE 2.2 "SafeWax Application Protocol"

This document presents Deliverable D2.2 – “SafeWax Application Protocol”, prepared within the framework of the Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder project SafeWax (Grant Agreement No. 101099462), coordinated by the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The deliverable defines and validates the optimized application protocol for SafeWax, a bioinspired fatty acid-based superhydrophobic coating designed to protect crops, particularly grapevines, from fungal pathogens such as Plasmopara viticola. The study combines laboratory, semi-open field, and small-scale plant trials to establish reproducible, scalable coating application parameters suitable for agricultural use. Experimental work confirmed SafeWax’s preventive and protective efficacy against P. viticola. The protocol details spray-system setup, air pressure, nozzle configuration, and coating dosage, ensuring effective deposition on both adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Long-term monitoring, including SEM imaging up to 40 days post-application, demonstrated strong coating adhesion, environmental stability, and consistent superhydrophobic performance. This deliverable provides the validated technical framework for SafeWax application in upcoming open-field trials (2025), marking a major step toward sustainable, crop protection solutions that reduce pesticide dependence in line with the EU Green Deal. Access to this deliverable is temporarily embargoed until its formal review and approval by the European Commission Project Officer and external reviewers, in accordance with Horizon Europe dissemination and data management policies.