Ponent cooperatives use drones to combat wheat spider mite

Cooperatives in the Ponent region are testing new biological control strategies to combat the wheat spider mite, a pest that can reduce wheat harvests by half by drying out plants before the grain matures.

As part of these trials, drones are being used to release phytoseid mites, which act as a natural predator to the spider mite. While this treatment was previously applied manually, the use of drones allows for more precise application across larger areas.

This biological approach is being explored as an alternative to chemical pesticides following the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture's decision not to authorize the use of abamectin this year. Although the European Union has prohibited abamectin since 2023, the Ministry had granted exceptional authorization for its use over the last two years; however, that permission has not been extended for the current season.