Post by Danfoil A/S

Politicians are overlooking documented tools in the pesticide debate While new restrictions on spraying in groundwater-forming areas are being discussed politically, Danfoil believe one important tool is still missing from the toolbox: Documented spraying technology. Today, we spend a lot of time discussing where spraying should be allowed and which products farmers may use. But we talk far too little about how the spraying is actually carried out. That is a mistake. Spraying technology has a direct impact on how well the plant protection product reaches the crop — and therefore how much chemistry is needed to achieve the desired effect. In recent years, there has been a strong focus on spot spraying, camera technology and PWM nozzles. These technologies can certainly be relevant in specific situations, especially in weed control. But they do not solve the main challenge in dense crops such as potatoes and cereals: Getting the spray liquid down into the crop and placing it where it needs to work. Denmark is looking for pesticide reductions in the part of crop protection where the potential is smallest. And we risk investing millions in technologies that are too narrowly focused if we only focus on spot spraying and PWM. When it comes to fungicide applications, the challenge is not just dosing. It is about coverage, deposition and utilisation of the product. This is where Danfoil’s air sprayer has documented its effect. In Danish trials with SEGES Innovation, increased effect against potato late blight and higher starch yield have been demonstrated compared with conventional nozzle spraying. At Danfoil, we estimate that Denmark can realistically reduce pesticide consumption by around 15 percent if documented spraying technology is given a much more central role in the pesticide strategy. If the goal is to protect groundwater while maintaining a strong and competitive agricultural sector, air sprayers and other documented spraying technologies should be included on equal terms with other IPM tools. It is practical. It is documented. And politically, it remains almost completely untapped. #agriculture #cropprotection #sprayingtechnology #groundwater #IPM #Danfoil