BioScout is an Australian company with a specialized device designed to identify and quantify disease spores. Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network members are conducting a multi-year project with BioScout to sample this revolutionary technology and help improve Bioscout for use in Western Canadian agriculture.
Network members will work to: (1) determine how BioScout can aid in the fungicide decision-making process in Western Canada regarding identification of disease, quantification of spore load and prescribe timing of fungicide application; (2) identify how BioScout contributes to enhancing pesticide stewardship within Western Canadian agriculture operations; and (3) evaluate the impact of the BioScout device within various crop types available across the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network.
The BioScout unit provides a unique opportunity to increase the efficiency of fungicide application. The data collected by the device allows producers to make effective and sustainable spraying decisions, which are reflective of field conditions.
Funders/Partners: BioScout, CAAIN, Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network members
SporeScout units from the BioScout company of Australia were installed at Olds College Smart Farm. Researchers used the devices from 2023 to 2024 to detect disease – causing pathogenic spores and evaluate the technology’s performance in real-world conditions. The Smart Farm is a living laboratory on campus for crop, livestock and agricultural technology spread over 3,000 acres.