Source: Future Farming
Lately, social acceptance of the use of chemical crop protection products became limited, which resulted in political pressure and the loss of certain products.
DripByDrip
Since crop protection is an important measure for preserving crop yields, growers are now seeking sustainable agricultural solutions. In 2017, Bayer and Netafim addressed this challenge with a solution named DripByDrip.
The concept uses Netafim’s drip irrigation systems to deliver Bayer’s chemical and biological crop protection products. DripByDrip applies the active substances precisely to the plant, resulting in higher efficacy, the need for less crop protection compound and lower environmental impact.
Digital prediction models
The joint research collaboration aims to further develop DripByDrip. Under the collaboration, comprehensive data sets will be generated experimentally to calibrate digital prediction models for optimized application of crop protection compounds via drip irrigation.
This includes laboratory and field studies evaluating the behavior of the Bayer nematicide Velum in soils and plants under typical agricultural conditions in arid regions.
Research in Israel
Research activities will be carried out in Israel, at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research of BGU and Netafim facilities. The project is led by Dr. Marc Rist, Research & Development at Crop Science, a division of Bayer, Dubi Raz, Corporate Agronomy Director at Netafim, and Prof. Shimon Rachmilevich and his team at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research of BGU.
The mutual research project will be carried out in BGU and Netafim facilities, in addition to field trials in Israel.