An important disease in many crops is mildew. Current horticultural practices rely on intensive pesticide use to counter it. However, the use of chemical crop protection results in spray residues on the harvested product and mildew infections cannot always be prevented. Scientific research showed that UV-C light has the potential to become a sustainable alternative for chemical mildew control. The application of UV-C still need to be optimized and automation is required to allow introduction in horticulture. UV-ROBOT will try to tackle these issues and has three main goals:
In the course of the project we will develop, test and demonstrate cost-effective UV-C robots to control mildew in three types of crops:
Horticultural experts in Belgium and the UK will together find ways to incorporate UV-C in current IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies of each crop. Belgian expertise in automation and French expertise in data analysis will jointly develop innovative robots that can autonomously apply UV-C. On top, the co-creation of innovative sensors for automatic mildew monitoring by a UK partner specialized in e-nose development will reduce the farmers’ workload and ensure tight disease control.
At the end of the project the developed robots will be available for growers with a user-friendly interface and a crop specific implementation strategy. Demonstration across the NWE region and extensive communication during and after the project will inform growers to ensure innovation roll-out. We hereby aim to lower growers’ dependence on chemical crop protection and thereby reduce pesticide use and spray residues in horticulture across North-West Europe.
101 Duffelsesteenweg
Sint-katelijne-Waver
2860
Belgium
46 Interleuvenlaan
Leuven
3001
Belgium
Stockbridge House Cawood
Selby, Norh Yorkshire
YO8 3TZ
United Kingdom
30 rue Marconi
Mt St Aignan
76130
France
181 Wisbech Road
Littleport
CB6 1RA
United Kingdom
1 Vézendoquet
Saint-Pol-de-Léon
29250
France
1 Maisons des Maraichers –, la métairie neuve
Pont St Martin
44860
France
1 New Road, East Malling
Kent
UK ME19 6BJ
United Kingdom
71 Voort
Hoogstraten
2328
Belgium
Lead partner
| Organisation | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proefcentrum Hoogstraten |
71 Voort Hoogstraten 2328 Belgium |
stef.laurijssen@proefcentrum.be | www.proefcentrum.be |
| Name | Contact Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt | Lieve Wittemans | lieve.wittemans@proefstation.be | Belgium |
| Octinion | Jan Anthonis | janthonis@octinion.be | Belgium |
| STC Research Foundation | Lauren Branfield | lauren.branfield@stc-nyorks.co.uk | United Kingdom |
| CESI | Chantal Hurard | churard@cesi.fr | France |
| Roboscientific Limited | Stan Curtis | stan@roboscientific.com | United Kingdom |
| Comité d’Action Technique et Economique | Marine Guerret | marine.guerret@cate.bzh | France |
| Comité Départemental de Développement Maraîche | Brigitte Pelletier | brigitte.pelletier@cddm.fr | France |
| NIAB EMR | Helen Cockerton | helen.cockerton@emr.ac.uk | United Kingdom |
With the end of the project approaching, different growers started using UV-robots in practice. Some other growers might still be in doubt about the purchase and need more practical information. That is why we want to finalize the project with an article on the practical use with a few do’s and don’ts. Read More
The control of Powdery mildew in tomato was already defined in the UV-ROBOT project. In the extension of the project we changed our focus from Powdery mildew to the tomato russet mite (TRM). Read More
As a progressive grower, we are constantly innovating, mainly in sustainability. We optimize our cultivation and business process with an eye for people, plants and the environment. Read More
From June 13th 2023 to June 30th 2023 a trial was carried out by Botany BV on their site in Horst-Meterik to test the crop safety of the UV-C treatments on tomato. Read More
Two weeks ago, the last UV-C treatment was given in the cucumber trials of the project. The last trial served as a demonstration and validation, focusing on the effectiveness of UV in treating powdery mildew. Two varieties were tested, Dee Viate (DV) and Sepalin (SP), both with 50 J/m² UV (UV) and without (CC). Additionally, objects were added for Dee Viate; one where UV was combined with a preventive biological treatment (BUV) and another where a reduced amount of UV was given on darker days (VUV). Read More
The use of pesticides against mildew is very intense during plant breeding of strawberry plants. The aim of this trial is to apply UV-C to fight powdery mildew (and spider mites) and to make healthy plant material with a minimum of chemical input. Read More
While deploying UV robots at more growers worldwide, we are given more insights in the variety of growing infrastructures that exist, and the challenges that these bring in terms of automation. Read More
In high wire system cucumber production, powdery mildew pressure can be reduced by regular leaf thinning although high leaf contamination requires chemical treatments to maintain crop cultivation. UV-C light has been shown to prevent powdery mildew development to maintain low disease pressure in cucumber and tomato crops. Read More
Today (31/01/23), new cucumber plants arrived at PSKW. The trial starting today will be the last trial by the research station in the Interreg project UV-robot. Read More
Fruit rot (Botrytis) is a big problem in the cultivation of strawberry. At the moment growers perform biological and chemical sprayings during flowering period to control this disease. Read More
During the International Mechanisation and Demonstration fair at Research Centre Hoogstraten we will discuss the use of UV-C light in strawberry production to control powdery mildew, but also other diseases and pests. We will take a deep dive into the most import results of the Interreg NWE UV-ROBOT project and will visit the trial in our greenhouse to see the robot in action.
24 September 2022; 10h00-17h00; Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, Voort 71, 2328 Meerle
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Proefcentrum Hoogstraten organize a workshop about ‘Autonomous UV-C application on tabletop strawberries to control mildew: optimization and computability with IPM’. The workshop on September 18 2019 takes place in Hoogstraten and starts at 7 pm.
Location: Proefcentrum Hoogstraten, Voort 71, 2328 Meerle
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Marieke Vervoort (PCH) will present a poster about ‘Autonomous UV-C application on tabletop strawberries to control mildew: optimization and computability with IPM’ at the APS annual meeting in Ohio.
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The International Symposium on Advanced Technologies and Management for Innovative Greenhouses takes this year place in Angers. More information about this event can be found on https://www.greensys2019.org/. Marieke Vervoort (PCH) will give a presentation about Autonomous application of UV-C as an alternative to fungicides for powdery mildew control in strawberry table top cultivations.
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At the beginning of February, the North American Strawberry Symposium takes place in Florida (US). The program of this event can be found on https://nasga.org/pdf/-2018/2019SymposiumFullProgram.pdf?V2. Marieke Vervoort (PCH) has a presentation about autonomous UV-C application on
tabletop strawberries to control mildew: optimalization and compatibility with IPM
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On 31/01/2019 CATE (Comité d’Action Technique et Economique) will participate to “SMARTAGRI #3, Digital to the benefit of plants”. CATE will promote the UV-robot project. More information about this event can be found on http://www.smartagri.bzh/.
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The results of UV-C application on strawberry to supress mildew will be presented by Marieke Vervoort (researcher strawberry, research centre Hoogstraten (Belgium)) at the International Soft Fruit Conference on January 10 2019. The presentation is entitled "Autonomous UV-C application to control mildew in strawberry: optimization and compatibility with IPM".
For more information or to subscribe for this event: http://www.softfruitconference.com/#programme2019
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