Since iMapPESTS launched two new mobile surveillance units alongside the prototype sentinel for a comparison trail at SARDI’s Waite Campus in Adelaide, the iMapPESTS team continues to investigate smarter, faster ways to monitor and report airborne crop pests and pathogens to growers.

In the coming weeks, all three sentinels (pictured above) will be actively trapping airborne pests and pathogens near each other to enable comparison of each of the units’ capacity to capture high priority targets for industry.

The features of sentinels two and three differ slightly from the prototype sentinel and each other, in weight, size, power requirements, and shape.

However, the suite of sentinels all perform the same task of trapping airborne pests and pathogens, while collecting local environmental data that relates to the time of trapping. Results of of these monitoring activities will be published through the iMapPESTS website.

These sentinels are state-of-the-art mobile surveillance units, and are a key output from the multimillion-dollar, cross-industry iMapPESTS investment led by Hort Innovation, with funding from the Australian Government as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program.

For more information, please contact Shakira Johnson (Engagement & Adoption for iMapPESTS) at shakira.johnson@ausveg.com.au or visit the website.

To learn more about the iMapPESTS program, read this article featured in Vegetables Australia — Winter 2020!