NSRF Project PrecisionFeedProtect
Project Information
Title: TBA
Acronym: PrecisionFeedProtect
Project ID: TBA
Start Date: TBA
End Date: TBA
Duration: two-year project
Funded under: the European Union and Greek national funds
Total cost: TBA
Coordinated by: TBA
Implemented at: the facilities of VIOZOKAT, Katerini
Overview of the Project
The greatest losses in stored animal feed are caused by infestation with storage insects. PrecisionFeedProtect addresses that problem with an integrated pest management approach that combines sensor technology with approved contact insecticides, so that treatments are applied when and where they are actually needed.
The project is carried out with the Institute of Bio-economy and Agri-technology (iBO) of CERTH and the animal feed manufacturer VIOZOKAT in Katerini, whose facilities serve as the working environment for the trials.
Objectives
- Analyse the existing conditions at the VIOZOKAT storage facilities.
- Evaluate and optimise precision applications, including fumigation in containers and silos.
- Deploy phosphine sensors so that the timing of applications is driven by data, reducing insect resistance over the long run.
- Assess the effectiveness of approved contact insecticides.
- Produce fully disinfested feed and so prevent quality degradation during storage.
- Carry out an economic and social impact analysis using Data Envelopment Analysis.
Our role
The Agricultural Economics and Consumer Behaviour Lab contributes the economic and social dimension of the project. This covers the efficiency assessment of the treatments through Data Envelopment Analysis, and a national consumer survey of 1,000 respondents in Greece on awareness of alternative, “green” disinfestation methods and on the willingness to buy foods treated in this way.
This research has been co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds.