Utilizing Earth Observation and UAV technologies to deliver pest and disease products and services to end users in China

蝗虫和锈病是全球农业的主要问题，包括中国的谷物。目前，它们通常通过地毯式喷洒化学品来控制，因此本项目旨在减少不必要的杀虫剂使用，以提高资源利用效率。这项工作将通过将地球观测和建模技术与生物信息相结合，开发病虫害监测、预报和管理服务产品，为应对这些病虫害提供一种综合办法。动态病虫害风险评估和预警地图将使中国政府和服务提供商（提供农作物病虫害控制）能够确定喷洒农药的最佳区域，并规划无人机（UAV/drone）的飞行路线，以便对农作物进行精确喷洒。还将研究和开发生物农药（生物防治剂）的应用。该项目将降低作物保护的成本，从而提高农民的收入，并将通过减少化学品向生态系统的释放来保护环境和人类健康。

Locusts and rust diseases are major problems for agriculture globally, including for cereals in China. Currently they are often controlled by blanket-spraying of chemicals so this project aims to reduce unnecessary application of pesticides to improve the efficiency of resource use. The work will provide a comprehensive approach to dealing with these pests by combining earth observation and modelling technology with biological information to develop pest and disease monitoring, forecasting and management service products. Dynamic pest and disease risk assessment and warning maps will enable the Chinese Government and service providers (providing crop pest and disease control) to determine the best areas to spray with pesticides, and to plan flight paths for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs/drones) to follow for precise spraying of crops. Applications for biopesticides (biological control agents) will also be investigated and developed. The project will reduce costs of crop protection, leading to better incomes for farmers, and will protect environmental and human health by reducing release of chemicals into ecosystems.