In March 2009, partners LNV, VROM, LTO, Vewim, Nefyto, Agrodis, Plantum and University of Wageningen announced their Innovation Award for Sustainable Crop Protection (Innovatieprijs Duurzame Gewasbescherming) was given to the ‘Canopy Density Spraying’ system developed by Jan van den Zande of Plant Research International (www.pri.wur.nl). The purpose of the award is to stimulate sustainable solutions in crop protection.

The winning concept Canopy Density Spraying system combines two basic ideas: application of the plant protection product on the target object only, and adjustment of the product dose level to the growth stage of the plant.  Individual plants and leaf mass are determined by sensors. The sensors control spraying nozzles that open and close rapidly upon detection of a plant and apply a variable spray volume to achieve a uniform cover with the amount of product used dependent on the amount of leaf mass.

When awarding the prize of 2,000 Euros, head juror Hans Alders, chair of the Netherlands’ Taskforce on Biodiversity and Natural Resources, said: This Crop Density Spraying system is an innovative combination of techniques that may yield spectacular environment gains for many crops. The first applications of fungal control in potatoes and lilies resulted in more than 90% reduction in product use, with an equally good disease protection. This reduction, which can be achieved in important crops, is very promising and the jury hopes that this development will contribute to a new plant protection era with precision control.

The jury, under the leadership of Hans Alders, awarded three prizes:
1st prize: Canopy Density Spraying.
Crop dependent crop protection system developed by PRI.

2nd prize: Trianum.
Biological crop protection product and plant strengthener developed by Koppert Biological Systems

3rd prize: Uvc-Meto
Automatic lighting cart for application of ultraviolet light in greenhouse crops developed by Berg Product B.V.


source: De Boomkwekerij