D Layout not Blog Reduction of pesticide use through early detection of spotted wing drosophila infestation

In cooperation with the Service Center for Rural Areas in the Rhine-Palatinate and the 3win Maschinenbau GmbH introduces MABRI.VISION Research project in the field of pesticide use in fruit and wine growing The goal is to develop a sensor-based monitoring trap for spotted wing drosophila that will enable a reduction in pesticide use. 

A spotted wing drosophila infestation is considered particularly catastrophic in fruit and wine growing. To avoid the loss of entire harvests, chemical pesticides are used to combat the pests. The time-consuming and error-prone process of checking for insect presence is currently performed manually by farmers and winemakers. The deployment and evaluation of automated monitoring traps allows for early detection of spotted wing drosophila infestations. Data on local pest populations are transmitted in real time, enabling timely decisions on the targeted use of pesticides. In this project, the MABRI.VISION team, with its expertise in sensor technology and image processing, is contributing to an efficient, affordable, and environmentally friendly measure for the early detection and control of spotted wing drosophila. A first prototype, consisting of a camera and microcontroller, is already in the testing phase.