Project scientist demonstrates pest monitoring technology

Locust - project target species

Project technical workshop in Beijing

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Project Overview

So, what’s the problem

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has set targets to achieve zero-growth in chemical pesticide use by 2020. Approaches to maintain pest and disease control whilst reducing chemical inputs need to be researched, and must include more targeted applications of pesticides or switching to products such as biopesticides which have a low ecological impact.

Predictive modelling and monitoring data gathered from Earth Observation (EO) are valuable sources of information to advise farmers on the rational use of pesticides; when there is enough time to apply a biopesticide instead of chemical pesticides.

In China, guidance and advice on methods of pest and disease control is provided by the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (NATESC), which provides agricultural extension services to farmers.  NATESC has worked closely with CABI to improve how pest and disease management advice is sourced and communicated to farmers using models derived from multi-source EO and environmental information.

What is this project doing?

This project is based on a previous successful CABI project (2015 – 2016) which combined EO and agricultural expertise from both the UK and China, to develop a prototype system providing information to NATESC locust control extension workers.

Through multi-disciplinary teams this project aims to give timely advice on the possible location and timing of locust outbreaks and stripe rust in China. The project uses data from satellites and other environmental information to help extension workers make informed decisions about pest control activities. Models will be validated in the laboratory and in the field to give a measure of certainty of predictions.

Crop risk and loss estimation from locust swarms will be investigated using cutting edge EO techniques and monitoring. The biodiversity of insect species in crops will be assessed using Vertical Looking Radar, a technology capable of identifying the size and species of flying insects.

In addition to building monitoring and forecasting systems, CABI will investigate how this information should be best communicated to ensure the benefits of the technologies are felt by farmers and other stakeholders. The project consortium will work closely with NATESC in China to ensure the system is built in a way that is compatible with current dissemination approaches.