For example, AI is expected to be used to identify pest and crop behavior patterns. This will allow for the identification of behaviors related to pest spread among plants, colony location, distribution, and dispersal along stems and leaves, among other things. Similarly, the analysis will also focus on examining plant behavior and whether there are similarities in its response at different disease stages.

In the field of vision technology and image processing, the potential in cultivation would consist of the possibility of identifying pathogens that affect the early stages of the crop cycle, such as growth, flowering, and fruit set, making it critical to identify them to ensure the profitability of the crops.

Regarding IoT technology, the project aims to explore the impact of real-time crop monitoring to identify patterns that indicate early signs of abnormal behavior, thereby reducing the impact of pests on the crop thanks to the installed sensor network.
Tests are being conducted on land in the Asturian town of Villaviciosa.

Once the early detection phase is over, the research will focus on identifying patterns that allow determining the behavior of the pest in the crop based on an advanced analysis of the data collected by the sensors.

Finally, the PLAGo project will focus on establishing an advanced system using Artificial Intelligence and data analytics to ultimately reduce the impact of pests on crops. To obtain conclusive results, the project will be implemented directly in the field to validate the researched technologies in a relevant growing environment. Specifically, the research will be conducted on land belonging to the Regional Agri-Food Research and Development Service (SERIDA) in Villaviciosa, Asturias.

To carry out the research, Seresco will have the collaboration of the Plant Genetics department of the SERIDA Public Research Center, which will contribute its knowledge in the identification of pathogens and in the cultivation of faba beans; and of the IDONIAL Technological Center, which has extensive experience in the application of digital technologies such as vision technologies and robotics, in the field of precision agriculture.

This project has been co-financed by the Government of the Principality of Asturias through the Economic Development Institute of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA), and by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), within the framework of the public call for aid aimed at the execution of R&D projects, with the file number IDE/2021/000452.