Michał Wójcicki, PhD, Eng., an assistant professor at the Bacteriophage Laboratory of the IIET PAS, has been nominated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education as a member of the Management Committee of a COST Action (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

Project CA25147, ‘Bacteriophages for Crop Protection: Discovery, Exploration, Application & Society (Phage4Crops)’, is an international initiative aimed at developing sustainable methods of plant protection using bacteriophages – viruses that naturally combat pathogenic bacteria. The network brings together researchers from various disciplines, ranging from microbiology and molecular biology to agronomy, biotechnology and the social sciences, to jointly develop innovative solutions for modern agriculture. The project will involve research into the isolation and comprehensive characterisation of new bacteriophages, their application in crop protection, and an analysis of the legal, social and educational aspects associated with the implementation of this technology. Phage4Crops’ activities are intended to help reduce the use of chemical plant protection products and enhance the safety and sustainability of agricultural production.

The team’s work will begin in October 2026 and will run until October 2030.