SESQUICHIC: From Chicory Roots to Sustainable Pest Control

ILVO, Ghent University (UGent), and Wageningen University & Research (WUR) bring together a multidisciplinary team for the newly funded FWO-SBO SESQUICHIC project (Chicory sesquiterpene lactones as bioinsecticide and target for resistance breeding). SESQUICHIC is taking a fresh look at how plant-derived compounds could reshape the future of crop protection.

As the European Union continues to restrict the authorisation of crop protection active substances due to environmental and health concerns, researchers are turning to nature for alternatives. SESQUICHIC focuses on sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), naturally occurring molecules in chicory that show strong potential as biobased insecticides.

Led by ILVO and funded by the FWO-SBO program, SESQUICHIC combines plant breeding, molecular biology, natural product chemistry, and proteomics to:

• Isolate and chemically characterise STL compounds from chicory biomass
• Validate the insecticidal activity of STLs through lab and greenhouse trials using optimised bio-assays
• Understand how particular STL compounds influence insect resistance
• Evaluate the safety and environmental impact of the potential agricultural use of particular STL compounds
• Explore breeding pathways by creating lines with altered STL profiles using gene editing techniques

UGent contributes two critical areas of expertise:

🧪 Prof. Sven Mangelinckx leads efforts in STL purification and structural analysis — vital for identifying which compounds are most effective and stable.

🔬 Prof. Alain Goossens focuses on deciphering the metabolic pathways underlying STL production and their interactions with insect physiology, utilising advanced proteomic and transcriptomic tools.

Together, their work helps to identify not just if STLs can work as biobased insecticides, but how, why, and which ones.

SESQUICHIC also aims to create practical outputs:

• New leads for sustainable biobased insecticide development
• Improved crop varieties with enhanced resistance
• Scalable methods for STL extraction from agricultural byproducts
• Regulatory and market assessments to support real-world implementation

Three PhD researchers and a postdoctoral researcher will drive the work forward, alongside a stakeholder advisory board comprising companies active in crop protection and plant biotechnology.