″Smart Electronic Traps″ – Interview with Felippe Antonelle, Jacto Next

AgroPages exclusively interviewed Felippe Antonelle Gonçalves, business manager at Jacto Next. The company is developing ″smart electronic traps″ for real-time monitoring of pests, using proprietary algorithms for identification and counting. Check out:

Felippe Antonelle Gonçalves, business manager at Jacto Next

How do ″smart electronic traps″ for real-time pest monitoring work?

Integrated Intelligent Pest Monitoring (MIIP), using electronic traps to attract and capture pests, works similarly to conventional traps. This is because we have the delta trap with the adhesive floor and specific pheromone for each pest to be monitored and in conventional traps.

However, electronic traps have embedded technology that makes it possible to take high-resolution photos of the adhesive floor at scheduled times and send these images via 4G, along with other important information (air temperature and humidity, for example), to the EKOS | MIIP, where the image is processed performing the identification and quantification of the captured pests, allowing online, agile, assertive monitoring, in addition to bringing savings and operational efficiency on the farm.

What kind of differential does the use of proprietary algorithms for insect identification and counting offer?

The use of proprietary algorithms guarantees greater control, reliability and robustness in the delivered result. In the identification and counting of the pests, the Artificial Intelligence architecture was carefully implemented optimizing the training data to ensure the identification of the pests in different scenarios. Another differential of our algorithms is the Active Learning methodology, which seeks continuous learning. Therefore, we are constantly evaluating and improving the accuracy of pest identification.

What stage is the development of the technology at?

The technology is in the final stages of development. We are currently in the validation process.

How does the integration of traps with the EKOS platform work?

The electronic trap collects and sends the information (pictures of the adhesive floor and information on temperature and air humidity) to the EKOS platform, where we have a specific page for Integrated Intelligent Pest Monitoring (MIIP). In this module, it is possible to register the stands that will be monitored, select the pests you want to monitor and even create activities such as installation, counting and maintenance for electronic and conventional traps.

The counting activities are for taking pictures of the adhesive floor of pests with a cell phone, only for conventional traps, where this function is not automated. The counting activities allow the integration of conventional traps into the online platform, where the identification and quantification algorithm is allowed in the same way as in the electronic trap, allowing more significant savings and integration of collection points. The EKOS platform | MIIP also enables you to visualize the results in monitoring and heat maps, where each trap installed takes on a color due to the pre-registered alert, control and economic damage levels and activity maps, with all activities registered in the field.

Does the technology also have any connection or partnership with chemical or biological control solutions?

No, the EKOS | MIIP was conceived with the producer's ecosystem in mind. Among the challenges in agriculture, pest control is one of the activities with the most significant impact on production costs. The platform suggests the catalog of pests and their chemical and/or biological control for each monitored insect. For the application of microbiological products, Jacto Next, Jacto’s service area, responsible for selling the electronic trap, also offers the release of these products via drones.

What will be the next development steps?

The next steps include validating the electronic trap architecture in partner areas and expanding monitored crops. In addition, another important step would be to implement and test other forms of electronic trap communication besides 4G (satellite communication, for example).

What is the expected arrival on the market?

The forecast for arrival on the market is for the second half of 2022, specifically for September (crop 22/23). With population growth, the search for food production is increasing, and the responsibility of farmers for social and environmental issues is increasingly evident. Agriculture has been undergoing digital transformation to help manage and produce more with fewer areas, increasingly verticalizing the agricultural property. With this, the use of online tools for management becomes indispensable in the search for better results.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)