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Danish university seeks licensees to bring drone-based biological pest control technology to market

Summary

Profile Type
  • Technology offer
POD Reference
TODK20240718003
Term of Validity
18 July 2024 - 18 July 2025
Company's Country
  • Denmark
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Targeted Countries
  • All countries
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General information

Short Summary
A Danish university technology introduces a ground-breaking approach to sustainable agriculture and horticulture through drone-based biological pest control. Utilising cutting-edge technology, the university presents a solution that aligns with the global shift towards environmentally friendly farming practices.

The university is looking for licensees from industry to bring the technology to market.
Full Description
Pollinating insects are dying off because of chemical pesticides. This massively harms biodiversity and threatens food security. One way to replace chemicals is via live beneficial insects that eliminate pests.

The university's drone-based biological pest control technology offers a complete UAV-based delivery system for automated distribution of live beneficial animals, thereby lowering cost, improving effectiveness, market adaptation and food security.
To minimize mortality of the beneficials university researchers have designed a dispensing system that handles them with great care, delivers them outside the airflow of the drone and spreads them via an airbed.

The university's original plan was to build a spin-out company based on the inventions.
The inventor started a company but realized it was not a one-man task. A larger, more professional organisation with market access is needed for which reason licensees with the industrial capacity and competences are sought.
Advantages and Innovations
The most valuable benefits of the technology described in three patents, focusing on the use of drones for distributing beneficial predators in agriculture and horticulture, include:

- Eco-friendly pest control: The technology provides a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, reducing environmental impact and promoting biodiversity.
- Precision targeting: Drones enable precise application of beneficial predators, ensuring effective pest control in specific areas while minimising collateral damage to the crops and surrounding ecosystem.
- Cost efficiency: By reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and manual labour, the technology can offer significant cost savings for farmers and agricultural businesses.
- Increased crop yields: Effective pest control leads to healthier crops, potentially increasing yields and product quality.
- Data-driven decision making: The integration of drones with data analytics allows for informed decision-making, optimising pest control strategies based on real-time field data.
- Scalable solutions: This technology is adaptable to various farm sizes and types, making it a versatile solution for different agricultural settings.
- Safety improvements: Reduces human exposure to harmful chemicals and challenging field conditions.
- Time efficiency: Automated drone operation speeds up the pest control process, allowing for more timely interventions.
- Enhanced monitoring and management: Continuous monitoring capabilities of drones provide valuable insights into crop health and pest activity
- Resilience to environmental changes: The technology offers adaptability to various environmental conditions, making pest control more resilient to climate variability.
Stage of Development
  • Lab tested
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  • Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
A licensee is an industrial actor/a company who can bring the technology to market and needs very little help from the university and the inventor in this process.
Type and Size of Partner
  • Big company
  • SME 11-49
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME <=10
Type of partnership
  • Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 07001001 - Agriculture Machinery / Technology
  • 07001007 - Precision agriculture
Market keywords
  • 08001022 - Agricultural chemicals
  • 09005 - Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Related Products
Sector Groups Involved
  • Agri-Food
Targeted countries
  • All countries