Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41014549›Full record

ArticleSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2025

SafeWax: A Bio-Inspired Multifunctional Coating for Sustainable Crop Protection.

Iryna Polishchuk, Elena Prudnikov, Hanan Abu-Hamad, Niv Ben-Arie, Johanna Sklar, Matthias Kellermeier, Coralie Schneider, Markus Rueckel, Franziska Tauber, Mireia A Ibanez Revert and 10 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

20 authors.

Iryna PolishchukDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 320001, Israel.ORCID 0000-0003-3003-1580
Elena PrudnikovDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 320001, Israel.
Hanan Abu-HamadFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
Niv Ben-ArieDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 320001, Israel.
Johanna SklarDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 320001, Israel.
Matthias KellermeierMaterial Science, BASF SE, RGS/B - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Coralie SchneiderMaterial Science, BASF SE, RGS/B - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Markus RueckelMaterial Science, BASF SE, RGS/B - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Franziska TauberMaterial Science, BASF SE, RGS/B - B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany.
Mireia A Ibanez RevertDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin, 44, Bologna, 40127, Italy.
Alice BrannettiDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin, 44, Bologna, 40127, Italy.
Ilaria FilippettiDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin, 44, Bologna, 40127, Italy.
Simona FermaniDepartment of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna via Selmi 2, Bologna, I-40126, Italy.
Eric ChantelotIFV, French Wine and Vine Institute, Domaine de l'Espiguette, Le Grau du Roi, 30240, France.
Vincent DrezeEurofins Agroscience Services Regulatory Spain SL, Sorolla Center. Av. Cortes Valencianas 58, Office 904, Valencia, E-46015, Spain.
Ester SegalFaculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
Elena BaraldiDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin, 44, Bologna, 40127, Italy.
Giuseppe FaliniDepartment of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician" Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna via Selmi 2, Bologna, I-40126, Italy.
Claudio RattiDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin, 44, Bologna, 40127, Italy.
Boaz PokroyDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 320001, Israel.ORCID 0000-0003-0480-7250

Funding

HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council 101099462
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Modern agriculture faces numerous challenges, including the rise of fungal diseases and the effects of climate change. Traditional reliance on chemical pesticides poses environmental hazards, such as the emergence of resistant fungal strains. SafeWax, a biodegradable and multifunctional coating, provides a sustainable alternative by emulating natural plant wax cuticles. Its superhydrophobic surface prevents fungal adhesion and colonization, while also protecting crops from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and low humidity. Additionally, the self-cleaning properties of SafeWax coatings enhance water collection, promoting robust plant growth and productivity. Initial studies demonstrate the ability of SafeWax to reduce fungal infections and boost the resilience of crops like grapevines and tomatoes. This paper aims to introduce the SafeWax technology, explain its mechanisms, present preliminary results from lab and greenhouse trials, and discuss its potential to lower the demand for conventional pesticides in alignment with the European Green Deal, which targets a 50% reduction in pesticide use by 2030.

Indexed as

Crop ProtectionCrops, AgriculturalPesticidesWaxesPesticidesWaxesbioinspiredmultifunctional materialssuperhydrophobicsustainable agriculture

Identifiers

PMID41014549
PMCPMC12632414

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.