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🇧🇪 Belgium /Technology

Scientist develops laser-equipped drone to kill crop pests

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A computer scientist has developed a drone equipped with a laser to eliminate harmful insects like the Colorado potato beetle, offering an alternative to chemical pesticides.
  • The technology aims to protect beneficial insects and reduce agricultural costs, with the laser system estimated to cost significantly less per hectare than current methods.
  • The prototype has generated interest, with the next step involving the formation of a consortium with specialized companies to further develop and implement the technology.

Computer scientist Nick Reyntjens from Lierde has created an innovative drone system designed to combat agricultural pests using laser technology. This development offers a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, which can harm beneficial insects crucial for pollination and food production. Reyntjens' invention targets specific harmful insects, such as the Colorado potato beetle, by precisely eliminating them with a laser mounted on a drone.

Reyntjens was motivated to develop this technology after learning about the dramatic global decline in insect populations. He noted that conventional pesticides, while effective against pests, also kill essential insects. His goal was to find a solution that selectively targets pests without endangering pollinators. The system uses artificial intelligence to identify and track target insects, ensuring the laser only fires when a harmful insect is within range and avoiding accidental harm to other objects or beneficial species.

About four years ago, I learned from a YouTube documentary that the global insect population has decreased by two-thirds.

— Nick ReyntjensExplaining his motivation for developing the laser drone.

A significant advantage of Reyntjens' laser drone is its cost-effectiveness. While biological pest control can cost around 300 euros per hectare and chemical methods around 60 euros, his technology is projected to cost between 10 and 20 euros per hectare. The primary cost is associated with the drone's battery, which is expected to improve with technological advancements. This economic benefit, combined with its environmental advantages, makes the system highly attractive to farmers.

Currently, the technology exists as a prototype, but it has already attracted considerable interest from the agricultural sector. Reyntjens plans to move forward by establishing a consortium with specialized companies to further refine and commercialize the laser-equipped drone. This collaboration aims to bring the innovative pest control solution from the laboratory to the fields, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective future for agriculture.

Without insects, there is no agriculture. I love farmers, but I want to offer them an alternative to pesticides that are too deadly.

— Nick ReyntjensStating the importance of insects for agriculture and his desire to provide a safer alternative.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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