Agri-food: Innovative solutions and smart traps against alien insects

Innovative monitoring systems and smart traps to protect fruit growing in the Lazio region (Central Italy) from pests such as the brown marmorated stink bug. These are the solutions developed by ENEA and CREA researchers as part of the Simodrofila project, which also involves Società Agricola Colle Difesa (project leader), the Foundation for the Study of Food and Nutrition (FOSAN), and several farms in the Sabina area of the province of Rome.

“One of the pillars of the project is georeferenced territorial monitoring, which enables real-time mapping of infestations,” explains Maurizio Calvitti, researcher at ENEA’s Division for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems and scientific coordinator of the project.

A network of traps distributed throughout the orchards in Sabina has made it possible to collect weekly data, allowing farmers to intervene promptly in so-called hot spots and thus limit the spread of infestations. The traps use substances such as red wine, apple cider vinegar, and sugar to attract and capture the Asian fruit fly (Drosophila suzukii) or specific chemical blends for the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata).

“With this project, we aim to innovate plant protection management models by introducing new technologies, predictive models, and biological control strategies. The goal is twofold: on the one hand, to increase the competitiveness of local farms, and on the other, to reduce environmental impact by promoting a more conscious and targeted use of insecticides — to be applied only when truly necessary and at the pest’s most vulnerable life stage,” Calvitti adds.

ENEA and CREA researchers have developed and tested a solar-powered IoT trap, equipped with a microcamera and humidity and temperature sensors, which captures insects while simultaneously sending real-time images and data directly to farmers. This allows for remote monitoring and timely interventions. The next step may involve testing the device on a larger scale at farms in Sabina.

In addition to the technological aspect, the project also investigates the role of biodiversity and spontaneous plant species in the spread of pests. The analysis of biological communities in areas adjacent to cultivated fields has identified certain plant species — such as berries and blackberries — that provide refuge for the Asian fruit fly during colder months, supporting its survival and subsequent reappearance in orchards during the production season.

“With the intensification of climate change effects — milder winters and irregular rainfall — the Mediterranean area, including Sabina, is increasingly exposed to attacks by insects and pathogens, often alien species, which are putting local fruit production under severe stress. To this, we must add the worsening of already naturalized infestations,” notes Elena Lampazzi, researcher at ENEA’s Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory.

Along with the Mediterranean fruit fly and the Asian fruit fly, one of the most insidious threats to fruit crops — especially cherry trees — is the European cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cerasi).

“We must not underestimate the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), which is particularly concerning due to its extraordinary adaptability and voracity. It has already caused severe losses in kiwi, hazelnut, peach, and cherry crops, especially in northern Italy, but it now poses an emergency for fruit growing in Lazio as well,” emphasizes ENEA entomologist Raffaele Sasso.

Another innovative front of the project is the selection of cherry and peach cultivars less attractive to phytophagous insects.

“We have tested several varieties in the laboratory and in the field to measure their attractiveness and resistance to pest attacks, considering parameters such as ripening, acidity, sugar content, and skin color,” explains Sergio Musmeci, researcher at ENEA’s Agricoltura 4.0 Laboratory.

The project also includes the publication of weekly bulletins providing updates on the progress of infestations, weather conditions, and technical recommendations for plant protection treatments, favoring low-impact products.

Seventy percent of all fruit production in Lazio comes from the Sabina area, where the production network is made up mainly of small and medium-sized farms, particularly active in cherry growing, which traditionally relies on calendar-based applications of broad-spectrum pesticides.

“Thanks to the Simodrofila project, Sabina Romana has now become an open-air laboratory where agriculture, research, and innovation work side by side to build a more sustainable and modern agricultural model — one that poses no risks to the environment or consumer health. A model that can be replicated in other parts of Italy”, concludes Maurizio Calvitti.

To curb the spread of the Asian fruit fly and brown marmorated stink bug, controlled releases of beneficial insects — harmless to fruit — were launched last year, aiming to reduce the use of agrochemicals.