The Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands is investigating the possibility of using lasers to control greenhouse pests.
The Lasers In Greenhouses and Horticulture against Thrips and pests (LIGHT) project is a public-private partnership with companies and organisations including Lion Laser Systems, Ekyw, Glastuinbouw Nederland, Octiva, Royal Brinkman, Stichting Kijk and WUR’s Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs Business Unit.
Project leader Estuardo Hernández Olesinski commented, “Technologies that in the past we could only see in movies now play a part in our everyday lives. Let’s bring Star Wars to the greenhouse!”
WUR is investigating a laser that delivers the light in a triangular shape, combating the insects in the exposed area. This ‘wall of light” can be implemented into a ventilation system of a semi-closed greenhouse as a preventive measure or employed to actively scan plants for pest control purposes. While the laser has enough power to burn human skin at the target point of the robot, it quickly disperses and is not dangerous within a few meters.
The current focus is on thrips and aphids; they can be killed even when located underneath the leaf without harming the plant. The system can be tuned for different insects, and natural enemies in the greenhouse can remain safe when discriminated based on their size (bigger insects require more energy). The laser can therefore be an addition to existing methods of pest control and contribute to sustainable greenhouse horticulture by acting as part of an integrated pest management strategy.
Researcher in greenhouse technology Joseph Peller added, “A laser sounds futuristic, but it can be used very well in a practical way.” He also sees opportunities for the technology in open-field cultivation.