The Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae – Gmelin, Diptera: Tephritidae) is the main pest of olive both in Türkiye and in the whole Mediterranean basin where olive production takes place.

For this reason, the olive fly population in nature should be monitored frequently.

Thanks to the photos that digital traps can take 2-3 times a day, it is possible to detect the sudden population increase in nature remotely through the digital system before the damage to the fruits begins.

Challenge:

Olive growers have difficulty determining when to apply pesticides against the most important olive insect, the olive fly. This insect causes significant product loss and a decrease in quality.

Aim:

To provide olive farmers with digital traps that work with pheromone and food, and to optimize treatment timing and dosage for olive fly.

Solution:

The solution involves installing cost-effective digital traps in olive yards. These traps collect high-resolution photos which is transmitted via cellular networks to a remote server. The photos is then sended to end users by Metos's decision support platform to provide actionable insights.

Benefit:

This approach helps olive growers apply plant protection treatments more accurately, reducing unnecessary spraying, saving costs, and minimizing environmental impact. It ensures the health and quality of the crops while optimizing resource use.

This project involves close collaboration with olive grovers, olive producer unions and agricultural insurers. Olive growers and producer unions benefit from tailored solutions and training, while agricultural insurance provides significant savings in financial resources.