UK Launches AI-Driven Pest Detection Project for Onion and Brassica Crops

A UK consortium called TRACER‑Pest is developing an artificial‑intelligence system that uses smart traps, imaging technology and cloud analytics to detect Bean Seed Fly in onions and Swede Midge in brassicas earlier than traditional methods. The partnership includes onion and brassica growers, the University of Warwick, agritech developer B‑hive Innovations and the British Growers Association. Field trials will compare the AI platform with existing monitoring, aiming to shift crop protection from reactive spraying to more precise, preventative decisions.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) will host a two‑day Agronomists’ Conference in Leicester on 3‑4 December. The event will bring agronomists, researchers and growers together to shape an integrated pest‑management (IPM) strategy for cereals, oilseeds, potatoes and other arable crops. Sessions will cover alternatives to withdrawn chemical actives, disease control, soil health and the use of bio‑pesticides, reflecting growing pressure for sustainable crop protection across the British farming sector.