Development of novel spray application technologies to enhance effectiveness of benign pesticide products and to minimise residues in UK apple production

Three main pests and diseases of apples account for a loss of around 10% of apples produced in the U.K. This costs the industry around £12m every year. Current control strategies are becoming unsustainable due to pressure on growers to minimise pesticide use, loss of pesticide approvals due to EU legislation, problems caused by incompatibility of new products such as Potassium bicarbonate with other pesticides and growers not being able to respond rapidly to pest or disease events due to changes in farm size, the skill base in the farm work force and weather patterns. Application methods haven't changed significantly for at least 20 years, still being reliant on tractor drawn sprayers. These apply pesticides inefficiently, cause soil compaction and erosion and increase the carbon footprint of production every time tractors move through the orchards.
This project will develop a novel method of application that addresses all these issues, reduces reliance on conventional pesticides and, by reducing tractor and sprayer movements, lessens the environmental impact and footprint of production. The technology being developed in this project is transferable to other perennial tree crops and also to soft fruit crops such as strawberries and raspberries. The industry will benefit by having a greater range of options for pest and disease control and from being better placed to compete with imported fruit.