Desert locust. Copyright: Ivan Rwomushana, CABI

Drone spraying desert locusts. Copyright: Ivan Rwomushana, CABI

Roosting desert locusts. Copyright: Ivan Rwomushana, CABI

Drone in the sky amongst swarms of desert locusts. Copyright: Ivan Rwomushana, CABI

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Project Overview

So, what’s the problem

The causes of sporadic locusts’ swarms of current global proportions are not fully understood, but it is widely agreed to be linked to favourable climate conditions (high rainfall and warm temperatures) and limited ability to implement preventive measures in far-to-reach breeding areas. These conditions are likely to become more regular given the backdrop of climate change. Left unchecked, the numbers of this crop-devouring insect can grow exponentially to hundreds of millions of individual desert locusts.

The locust crisis will continue to threaten food security across Eastern Africa unless mitigation measures are in place to track and combat them. New technologies, such as drones, can support current and future ground and aerial management efforts.

Drones can complement current spraying means, as they are very targeted and can treat infestations that might otherwise be difficult to reach with vehicle-mounted or hand spraying methods. Drones can target small swarms that may not be feasible to control by aircraft, populations that escape the aerial sprays and roosting locusts in inhabited areas or agricultural lands.

Drone technology is versatile. Its ability to be adapted to carry chemical payloads complete with specially fitted Ultra Low Volume spraying technology and spectral cameras allows for both targeted spraying in hard to reach areas as well as mapping to determine crop loss.

What is this project doing?

CABI and Astral-Aerial have partnered to pilot the use of drones to control the desert locust. The technology works by equipping Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, with specially-designed and calibrated spraying equipment that enables mapping and precision spraying.

This pilot evaluates the benefits and efficiency of using drone technology as a complementary spraying method to manage locusts, including its effect on other beneficial insects and the environment. In the future, drone technology could be adapted for deployment of a biopesticide product based on the fungus Metarhizium acridum (GreenMuscle™ – a biological product CABI worked on and is now licensed through Elephant Vert) against hopper bands (a cohesive mass of young desert locusts) for sustainable control of future generations.

The drones will also be used to conduct post spraying mapping and ground sampling to determine the extent of desert locust eradication from spraying operations. Critical data on locust roosting behaviour on different crops and agro-ecologies will guide high precision targeting of the drone spray activities.