Yesterday we waved goodbye to this pioneering bit of tech. It’s a DNA spore sampler with a built in weather station and has been running in the vineyard for the last six months.
It sucks in air throughout the day and at the end of each day the onboard robotics run a cycle to check for Botrytis (bunch rot) and Powdery Mildew spores. This is then automatically uploaded online for remote access and warnings. The hope for the future is that this early warning system for many airborne pathogens can reduce the use and cost of pesticides for any commercial grower of fruit, vegetables and cereals.
Check out polygenyn.co.uk for more info.
