Commercialization of an Automated Monitoring and Control System against the Olive and Med Fruit Flies of the Mediterranean Region
Environmentally effective control of key-pests for olive, peach and citrus crops is of paramount socio-economic importance for the Mediterranean region. This requires effective e-monitoring and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) ground spraying control e-solutions based on technological innovations. The former FruitFlyNet project, funded under the 2007-2013 ENPI CBC Med Programme, introduced a Location Aware System (LAS) which has been tested, evaluated, and demonstrated in small-scale crop areas, with very promising results, although they are fragmented and not marketed yet. FruitFlyNet-ii project aims to develop a complete package solution for the farmers to e-monitor the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) and the medfly (Ceratitis capitata) pests. The final LAS solution provides two prototypes, namely, the OliveFlyNet and the MedFlyNet, consisting of two e-traps, one per pest examined and a set of e-services. The two LAS prototypes will be optimized by the inputs of living labs, which include startups, specialized SMEs, IPM industry and other stakeholders. They will demonstrate their performance and functionality in 8 large-scale, olive, peach, and citrus crop sites. Better optimization of targeted market establishment and operation of start-ups will lead to a co-patented product and will prepare the LAS prototypes for commercialization.