Smart spraying for sustainable farming

Recently, the EU CAP Network published the report of the seminar ‘Robotics and AI in farming and forestry’, focusing on innovation, knowledge exchange and EIP-AGRI. The seminar showcased current digital technologies and projects, facilitated knowledge exchange, and encouraged collaboration. The Greek Operational Group DacoTech already successfully fights the olive fruit fly with innovative digital technologies. Read their story.

Besides water scarcity and drought, the olive fruit fly (Dacus Bactrocera Oleae) is considered one of the greatest threats to olive oil producers. The Greek EIP-AGRI Operational Group DacoTech is pioneering advanced electronic, automated, and information technology solutions for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within a large-scale pilot olive grove.

This project modernises and enhances the precision and efficiency of the Bait Spraying Method used to combat the olive fruit fly, a major pest affecting olive orchards.

The effectiveness of this technological approach is evident by its continued use by the Agricultural Cooperative of Stavies in Crete, Greece, a project partner of the Operational Group, which has adopted the IPM method as standard practice following the project’s conclusion.

"Dacus is the main pest of olive tree cultivation, causing economic losses that, in Greece, exceed 30%. Instead of relying on widespread chemical spraying, we urgently need more environmentally friendly methods to combat this pest", says Daskalakis Lefteris, member of the cooperative and owner of the tractor on which the electronically-assisted sprayers were installed.

DacoTech responds to this need with ICT-driven innovations supporting an IPM strategy based on the Bait Spraying Method, an 'attract and kill' technique enabled by electronically assisted spraying devices. These devices not only apply the bait solution, but also collect operational data. Farmers can access the digital system and retrieve essential pest control information, such as insect capture rates per area and detailed bait spraying data, including the exact routes taken by spraying tractors or portable sprayers, the spraying points and the quantity per spraying point. This information allows for real-time monitoring, and enables timely and informed decision-making for farmers.

The system guarantees precise application of bait sprays and full control over the quantity used, leading to a substantial reduction in pesticide application, from the conventional 300ml per spraying, down to just 80ml. Thanks to these innovations, the olive oil produced is nearly free of pesticide residues. The improved pest management in the olive groves of the Agricultural Cooperative of Stavies is expected to result in an annual increase in production of approximately 5%.

John Kogerakis, agronomist at the Agricultural Cooperative of Stavies, emphasises the importance of applying the bait sprays under the appropriate climate conditions. During summer, the wider region of Messara experiences extreme warm conditions, which causes ‘hot spots’ or high populations of the Dacus. “To monitor climate conditions and correctly schedule the bait sprays, a meteorological station has been installed in Stavies. The station is also very useful for other cultivation procedures, such as harvesting, pruning and irrigation for olive oil in the area”, John explains.

While the DacoTech project was implemented in Stavies, its outcomes are shared widely through various networking and dissemination activities. Currently, Greece is the leading country in using the bait spraying method, which is applied at both regional and national levels.