30 Oct Newsletter on the project “INNOVATIVE SOLUTION AGAINST OLIVE FRUIT FLY – DACO-TECH” as a model for the rational management of olive fruit fly
The Operational Project entitled “INNOVATIVE ACTION AGAINST OLIVE FRUIT FLY – M16ΣΥΝ-00358” and named: DACO-TECH provides solutions for the large-scale application of modern automation and IT solutions for the technological modernization and improvement of the method of bait spraying, which is the only environmentally friendly method of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of olive fruit fly. In order to modernise and improve IPM, the following actions will be implemented:
α) Installation of suitable electronic equipment on the existing conventional sprayers, allowing the control and regulation of the quantity sprayed per tree and the complete recording of the quantity sprayed, the tractor’s paths and the spray points in the olive grove.
b) Enhancement of the attraction of the bait points with new food attractants for the pest (addition of ammonium nitrate) and reduction of the amount of spray solution (from 300 ml to 80 ml) per sprayed area.
(c) The data on the catching of the pest and spraying (tractor’s paths, quantity sprayed per tree and spraying points) will be recorded and sent in real time to a central information system.
d) Through the information system, the responsible staff and producers will be aware of the evolution of the pest’s population (spatial and temporal) and the coverage of olive groves at the level of spraying, providing an open source of informations and timely/reliable decision making.
e) Chemical analyses of olive oil will highlight its excellent taste and quality characteristics.
f) Dissemination and publicity actions for the results. In particular, it is planned to create a printed brochure, a website (https://daco-tech.gr/) that will provide all interested parties with up-to-date information on the project’s activities, the organisation of three workshops in the field and participation in scientific conferences.
The pilot olive grove in Stavies will serve as a demonstration and training model for other cooperations and/or producer groups in order to adopt practices for the modernisation of the National Olive Fruit Fly Control Programme for a sustainable and viable olive cultivation.
The project was included for funding under Action 2 “Implementation of the operational plan (project) of the Operational Groups for the productivity and sustainability of agriculture” of sub-measure 16.1 – 16.2 “Establishment and operation of European Innovation Partnership Operational Groups for the productivity and sustainability of agriculture” of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020″.
In the operational group participate as partners: AGRENAOS (AGRICULTURAL- ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIVE SERVICES P.C.) as Project Coordinator, the Agricultural Cooperative of Stavies, the Laboratory of Entomology of the Institute of Olive Subtropical Plants and Vine (ELGO-DIMITRA) and the Laboratory of Design, Machinery & Automation of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA).
