Research & Development

A significant issue for UK’s major crops is pest invasion. Timely and accurate identification of these pests is essential for efficient management and control. This is where Aucapo’s Intelligent Pest Management project steps in. We leverage smart agriculture technologies such as an AI-powered mobile app for pest detection and comprehensive pest management solutions, that integrates environmental data. These tools provide instant, accurate pest identification and analysis, enabling farmers to adopt an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for enhanced crop protection and yield.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive, environmentally sound approach to managing pests such as insects, diseases, weeds, and animals through a combination of techniques including biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties.

Here are some key components of Aucapo’s approach to IPM:

Monitoring and Identification: The first step in IPM is accurately identifying the pests, which is crucial since different pests may require different management strategies. Aucapo’s AI-powered mobile app assists in rapid and precise pest identification, allowing farmers to take appropriate actions in a timely manner.

Threshold Levels: Before taking any pest control action, IPM first sets an action threshold, a point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest control action must be taken. Aucapo’s intelligent pest management solution integrates environmental data to help establish these threshold levels, preventing unnecessary or premature interventions.

Prevention: As part of the IPM approach, Aucapo focuses on prevention methods such as crop rotation, selection of pest-resistant varieties, and proper management of irrigation and fertilization to make the environment less desirable for pests.

Control: If pest populations reach the action thresholds despite preventative measures, Aucapo recommends a combination of biological, chemical, and cultural controls, prioritizing methods that are least harmful to the environment.

By combining these strategies and techniques, Aucapo’s approach to IPM aims to reduce the use of pesticides and minimize environmental impact while maintaining productive and profitable farming operations.