A groundbreaking initiative aimed at assessing the effectiveness of biostimulants through the application of cutting-edge technologies has been launched to better manage plant diseases in crops.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre, in collaboration with Kent’s innovative fruit growers at Rumwood Green and expert crop protection advisers from Landseer Ltd., has embarked on a comprehensive feasibility study centered around the project titled ‘Apple Orchard Health: Evaluating Hyperspectral Imagery for Disease Detection and Biostimulant Efficacy’. This ambitious venture has garnered essential funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as well as the UKRI Transforming Food Production Challenge.
As UK fruit growers confront significant hurdles, the challenges are amplified by the decreasing availability of conventional plant protection products (PPPs) necessary to combat crop diseases. The gradual withdrawal of traditional PPPs, prompted by increasing environmental concerns, has increasingly complicated this predicament. Notably, despite the application of PPPs, UK apple growers endure annual crop losses of approximately 10-12% attributable to apple scab, a pervasive fungal affliction.
In the absence of PPPs, these losses could escalate dramatically to alarming figures between 70-80%. Fortunately, biostimulants present a promising alternative solution on the horizon. However, one of the major hurdles associated with biostimulants is effectively measuring their performance, as they function fundamentally differently from standard PPPs.
Biostimulants act primarily as preventative measures rather than as cures, necessitating their application at precisely the right moment, before the onset of visible disease symptoms. The difficulty lies in the challenge of determining the optimal timing for their application, as the critical stages of scab infection remain imperceptible to the naked eye.
This project intends to tackle the intricate challenges of evaluating biostimulants’ effectiveness and timing of application by harnessing advanced technologies, such as hyperspectral cameras and cutting-edge drones.
By pinpointing distinctive spectral fingerprints associated with various crop diseases, including apple scab, and identifying which of these can provide insights regarding biostimulant efficacy, the team aspires to develop an affordable camera system for growers that facilitates the detection of these vital spectral signals.
This innovative camera will function as an early warning system, vital for thwarting the spread of disease, thereby enhancing overall crop yield and operational efficiency while simultaneously reducing dependence on traditional plant protection products.
Eliot Dixon, Head of Robotics and AI at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, remarked: “This was a fast-paced proof of concept project designed to provide evidence for both the efficacy of biostimulant in apple scab control, but also in spectral imaging as a method for detecting apple scab. For the UK Agri-Tech Centre, this project highlights how our spectral imaging capabilities can be utilized in product development for both remote sensing and plant protection products. We are very pleased to have successfully shown how lab-based spectral imaging can be effectively transferred to a commercial farming context.”
**Interview with Dr. Emily Clarke, Lead Researcher at the UK Agri-Tech Centre**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Clarke. Can you tell us a little about the newly launched initiative regarding biostimulants in apple orchards?
**Dr. Clarke:** Thank you for having me! Our initiative, titled *‘Apple Orchard Health: Evaluating Hyperspectral Imagery for Disease Detection and Biostimulant Efficacy,’* aims to address the growing challenges that UK fruit growers face, particularly with the reduction of conventional plant protection products due to environmental concerns. We’re utilizing advanced technologies like hyperspectral imaging to assess the effectiveness of biostimulants, which are becoming increasingly important in managing plant diseases like apple scab.
**Editor:** It seems biostimulants could be a game-changer. What are their advantages over traditional plant protection products?
**Dr. Clarke:** Absolutely. Biostimulants work differently than conventional products; they enhance plant resilience and promote healthy growth rather than act directly against pathogens. This makes them a more sustainable option for managing crop health. Our research shows that biostimulants can significantly reduce disorders like “Jonathan spot” in apples, which is promising for improving overall fruit quality at harvest.
**Editor:** Given that apple growers currently face annual losses of 10-12% to diseases, how critical is this research?
**Dr. Clarke:** It’s crucial. If we don’t find effective alternatives to conventional plant protection products, those losses could increase exponentially, potentially reaching 70-80%. Our study is not just about maintaining yields; it’s about ensuring the sustainability of apple farming in the UK as we tackle both economic and environmental challenges.
**Editor:** How will the funding from DEFRA and the UKRI Transforming Food Production Challenge support your research?
**Dr. Clarke:** The funding will allow us to conduct comprehensive studies combining field trials and cutting-edge technology to evaluate the performance of biostimulants under real farming conditions. It also enables collaboration with innovative fruit growers in Kent and crop protection experts to share knowledge and develop effective management strategies.
**Editor:** What do you hope to achieve with this research in the long term?
**Dr. Clarke:** Our goal is to establish a reliable, science-based framework for using biostimulants in apple orchards, ultimately reducing disease impacts and crop losses while promoting agricultural sustainability. We’re excited about the potential of this research to transform how growers manage plant health and contribute to the resilience of UK fruit production.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Clarke, for sharing your insights and the exciting work happening at the UK Agri-Tech Centre.
**Dr. Clarke:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss our project!
