Tape2Grape is a 100 percent biobased multifunctional grafting tape for fruit and ornamental trees, which can be equipped with individual biological ingredients. Tape2Grape is biodegradable and therefore makes an important contribution to holistic, ecological agriculture.
In commercial fruit and agricultural production, grafting of woody plants plays an important role. For the grafting process, grafting tapes are often used to close the "open wound" on the tree and promote the growing together. As consumables, commercially available grafting tapes are mainly made from petrochemical raw materials, end up as plastic in the soil, where they do not degrade or do so just very slowly. Tape2Grape provides an environmentally friendly alternative: It is biobased on the one hand and biodegradable on the other, so it does not pollute the environment.
By specifically selecting the starting polymers and ingredients used, we at Fraunhofer IGB are producing a multifunctional, biobased and biodegradable grafting tape in the Tape2Grape project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The aim is to control the mechanical and plant-healing properties of the tape via the functionalities of the starting materials. By using antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal components integrated into the material to form a "bioinspired artificial bark", the woody plant will be actively supported in the healing process by preventing infection with pathogens at the open tree wound. An individual fertilizing finishing of the grafting band, adapted to the location and the plant, is also being investigated.
Tape2Grape represents an economic and environmental added value in both commercial and organic fruit production. The grafting tape is made of biobased polymers and can be equipped with bioactive substances. Due to the biodegradability, the tape can remain in the growing area after grafting and decompose, as it is not harmful to the environment compared to microplastic residues in competing products. The novel Tape2Grape grafting tape can also be customized for specific requirements, for example, equipped with fertilizer ingredients. In this way, further significant benefits such as soil improvement can be achieved as a side effect when it rots on site.
In line with this planned project, a major step towards a marketable product is to be taken in the feasibility phase. A specification sheet will be drawn up for Tape2Grape, the technical implementation at the film manufacturer will be determined and its use in the field will be tested. In addition, the selection and provision of suitable bio-based materials will be expanded and considered in relation to possible approval regulations in the area of plant protection. Ideally, the feasibility phase should also include the filing of a patent application.
Tape2Grape – Biobased, biodegradable grafting tape for fruit growing and agriculture
October 2021 – September 2022
Tape2Grape-M – Biobased, biodegradable grafting tape for fruit growing and agriculture
March 2023 – February 2025
We would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for funding the project "Tape2Grape", funding number 031B1184 and the project "Tape2Grape-M", funding number 031B1361A.
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB