Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 12:43 am
On Wednesday 12 July, 2023, Olombria, a UK agtech startup, announced its partnership with the UK’s largest fruit growers to ensure the traditional quality of fruits for Wimbledon tennis fortnight. The partnership is framed around Olombria’s Integrated Pest and Pollination Management (IPPM) approach, which involves the use of AI vision systems and natural semiochemical lures to encourage hoverflies – natural bee-mimics that do not sting – to the right part of the crop at the right time.
Tashia Tucker, CEO and Founder of Olombria, said, “We are delighted to work closely with progressive organisations like Berry Gardens to show how nature can be empowered by new technology to enhance natural growing environments without the use of chemical sprays and to deliver the best fruit possible. Our combination of skills in AI, semiochemical lures, and insect rearing and release, places us in a unique position to support growers around the world.”
With the use of Olombria’s AI vision systems, hoverflies have been shown to produce strawberry fruit yields that are 20% heavier and raspberries that are 56% heavier – and aphid outbreaks are brought under control within the optimal timeframe. This IPPM approach eliminates the threat of aphid infestations and enhances pollination in the changing environments of modern farming.
The dwindling numbers of bees have led to the need for alternative solutions for pollination in fruit farming. Olombria’s approach provides valuable enhanced data on the condition of crops at every stage of their maturity, allowing for the best IPPM results for the crop, while also eliminating the use of chemical sprays.
Steve Everhard, Press Contact for Olombria, said, “As we prepare for exciting battles on the Wimbledon courts, spare a thought for the battles in the berry fields of the UK, where insects compete to bring you the perfect tennis accompaniment. It’s game, set and match to the hoverflies.”
On Wednesday 12 July, 2023, UK agtech startup Olombria announced its partnership with the UK’s largest fruit growers to ensure the traditional quality of fruits for Wimbledon tennis fortnight. The partnership is framed around Olombria’s Integrated Pest and Pollination Management (IPPM) approach, which involves the use of AI vision systems and natural semiochemical lures to encourage hoverflies – natural bee-mimics that do not sting – to the right part of the crop at the right time.
Tashia Tucker, CEO and Founder of Olombria, said, “We are delighted to work closely with progressive organisations like Berry Gardens to show how nature can be empowered by new technology to enhance natural growing environments without the use of chemical sprays and to deliver the best fruit possible. Our combination of skills in AI, semiochemical lures, and insect rearing and release, places us in a unique position to support growers around the world.”
With the use of Olombria’s AI vision systems, hoverflies have been proven to produce strawberry fruit yields that are 20% heavier and raspberries that are 56% heavier – and aphid outbreaks are brought under control within the optimal timeframe. This IPPM approach eliminates the threat of aphid infestations and enhances pollination in the changing environments of modern farming.
As the number of bees continues to diminish, Olombria’s approach is an effective alternative for pollination in fruit farming. It provides valuable enhanced data on the condition of crops at every stage of their maturity, allowing for the best IPPM results for the crop, while also eliminating the use of chemical sprays.
Steve Everhard, Press Contact for Olombria, said, “As we prepare for the exciting battles on the Wimbledon courts, spare a thought for the battles in the berry fields of the UK, where insects compete to bring you the perfect tennis accompaniment. It’s game, set and match to the hoverflies.”
