What was the challenge/problem addressed?
Colorado beetles are a notorious enemy of the potato plant. If the beetles manage to deposit eggs underneath the leaves, the plants will be infested with voracious larvae three weeks later. Within a short period, the larvae of the Colorado beetle can defoliate an entire field of potatoes. The beetles thrive in warm and dry summers. With the hotter summers, our expectation is that this problem will increase, sometimes resulting in two or three generations of Colorado beetles in Dutch cultivation. In organic farming in the Netherlands, there are no available means to combat this pest.
Kako ste riješili problem?
A prototype of the Colorado Beetle Catcher is being tested and developed—an innovative machine for sustainable mechanical pest control of the Colorado beetle. This device utilizes the beetle’s behavior; when the plant is disturbed, they drop and remain motionless as if ‘playing dead’ for a while. We are collaborating with growers in Flevoland to develop this pest control machine. The test results are positive, with 50 to over 80 percent of beetles and larvae captured depending on the driving speed during each pass through the crop. During testing of prototype 2, we found that the machine maintains its effectiveness when towed behind the tractor. Prototype 3 demonstrated successful tipping of the collection bins, and the storage bin proved practical, preventing the escape of beetles and larvae when clean, while bycatch (mostly ladybugs) largely flies away. Dodatno, we observed that the machine’s effectiveness depends on factors such as driving speed and larval size (small larvae are more challenging to dislodge from the plant).
Outside the project, our final prototype, prototype 3, was showcased at the Interpom Exhibition in Kortrijk—an important international meeting platform for the potato industry in Europe. The prototype received enthusiastic feedback.
Ono što je inovativno u vašem praktičnom slučaju?
The Beelte Catcher itself is the innovative aspect of the case, being a technological innovation.
Koji su čimbenici uspjeha u rješavanju problema?
The advisory/innovation company is in close contact to the farmers and has a good network of progressive farmers willing to test sustainable innovations. With new technological innovations, it is very important to listen closely to the users, and not only to the issue you would like to resolve, but also about the exact way the innovation will be used in the future.
Naučene lekcije
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What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?
unknown
Može li se vaš pristup prenijeti i/ili prilagoditi drugim inovacijskim izazovima i regijama?
Da
Procijenjena prenosivost na ljestvici od 1 Consulai_i2connect_Horizon2020+logo_1 5
(gdje 1 je lako i 5 vrlo teško)
1
Za razmjenu iskustava o dobroj praksi, please contact
Jurrian Nannes
jurrian.nannes@wur.nl
Link to external information