Automatic monitoring systems for Lepidoptera, whitefly and thrips are becoming an essential tool for preventing risk and reducing the need for treatments. In this context, Agrisens - a Spanish company founded by industrial engineer Jesús Pujante - is attracting increasing interest thanks to a model that combines continuous sensing, AI algorithms and energy autonomy to transform pest monitoring in the field.
© Agrisens
Jesús says that his leap from the industrial to the agricultural sector was no accident. "In the industry, technology is everything, and since we are in a really agricultural area, I wanted to bring that knowledge to the field," he says. The concern was clear: on most farms, pest detection is still happening late. "When eventually detected by drones or satellite systems, the pest has already caused damage, which is why it's visible. What we offer is the possibility to detect the pest before it causes any losses so that action can be taken in time," he says. "To do this, Agrisens has developed fully autonomous smart traps, capable of capturing insects, classifying them through images and transmitting that information via 4G to its platform, where specific algorithms automatically count the captures.
The solution does away with manual monitoring, speeds up decision-making and provides early warnings based on real data. "If there's a significant growth in catches, we send an immediate warning to ensure the best technical decisions are made," says Pujante. "This allows us to act at the right time and accurately measure the effectiveness of each phytosanitary treatment. Additional value is provided by monitoring the pest's stage of development, which is essential in species with several generations per year."
© Agrisens
"One of the biggest advances of the system is its autonomy. The Agrisens device can be attached to greenhouse posts and be moved vertically, adapting to the crop's height. It incorporates a solar panel that feeds a battery with 15 days of autonomy and has a 50-meter adhesive film system designed to last for a year. When the surface becomes saturated, a motor, which can also be activated from the Agrisens website, automatically replaces the film, thus preventing unnecessary trips," says Pujante.
In practice, one trap per hectare is sufficient for horticultural crops, although Agrisens is proving to be effective with all sorts of productions. "The device has also started to be used in fruit trees (table grapes, citrus, stone fruit trees and even olive groves), which has opened up new lines of work in open fields; and Agrisens is already collaborating with important cooperatives and producers in the Region of Murcia, thus expanding into leafy and brassica crops.
When it comes to pests, Agrisens is currently working with lepidopteran models such as Tuta absoluta - tested at the experimental farm in Las Palmerillas - as well as Helicoverpa armigera, S. exigua and other species that can affect vegetables and fruit trees. At the same time, the company is developing models for the monitoring of whitefly, aphids, thrips and especially Thrips parvispinus, one of the most critical threats to greenhouses in southeastern Spain today. "That's our key target; it's the biggest problem right now and we are working on it," says Pujante.
© Agrisens
The system also allows the monitoring of beneficial insects, an aspect that is especially appreciated in biological control programs, where the balance of populations is as important as the pest itself, says the CEO.
"Moreover, as a project with environmental objectives, the acquisition of Agrisens can be financed with operational funds, which is accelerating adoption among Spanish growers," says Pujante.
As a complement to its device, Agrisens has a digital platform where producers can access maps, historical graphs, alerts and AI-based analysis. According to the company, the goal is clear: "to convert data into accurate decisions that reduce risks and improve the technical and economic sustainability of each campaign."
© AgrisensFor more information:
Agrisens
[email protected]
https://agrisens.es/
