The Beetle Sound Tube project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as part of the European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability” (EIP-AGRI).
November 2017 – November 2022
Agrar Technik Barnim, agrathaer GmbH, BayWa AG Luckau, Biologische Beratung Prozell und Schöller GmbH, Biohof SteinReich, BKF Belziger Kraftfutter GmbH, FÖL- Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau Berlin – Brandenburg e.V., Gut Schmerwitz GmbH & Co. KG, Julius Kühn-Institut, Kreisbauernverband Potsdam-Mittelmark e.V., Müller- BBM GmbH und WEDA Dammann & Westerkamp GmbH.
Leadpartner: agrathaer GmbH
About this project:
Background and experimental setup
Background: Insects that damage grain stores can cause major damage, leading to considerable financial losses. Early detection of storage pests is therefore highly relevant in practice to minimize losses. Many farms store grain in order to achieve greater flexibility with regard to the time of sale. If insect infestation occurs, the grain has to be treated or fetches lower prices as animal feed, for example. Severe infestation can lead to the formation of mold and mycotoxins, which renders the entire quantity of grain unusable as food or animal feed and results in the total loss of the goods.
During the five-year project, the system was installed and tested on four farms. During the project, data was collected on humidity, temperature, acoustics, infestation density and type of pest. All of this was used to refine the system. If an infestation occurred, it was treated in consultation with the storekeepers – beneficial insects were often deployed for this purpose. Over the course of the project, the system was further developed and software for detecting infestations was developed and tested. In addition, a lot of public relations work was carried out in the project and the project was presented at various events and in the media.
What does this have to do with the European “Farm to Fork” strategy?
Insect infestations can cause major financial losses in grain stores. Infested grain has to be treated and can only be sold at low prices. The system is an innovative method of identifying insect infestations acoustically much earlier than with conventional traps or temperature measurements. The use of beneficial insects makes it possible to dispense with chemical fumigation, which is in the interests of organic farming.
What is the role of agrathaer?
agrathaer is responsible for managing the operational group and the entire project coordination. Information events, a practical handbook, presentations at trade fairs and conferences and extensive PR ensure that the results are disseminated.
Beetle Sound Tube – Blog
29.11.2022
Successful Project Completion Celebrated
With around 20 participants, the practical training and final event of the Beetle Sound Tube project were successfully held on November 29 at Gut Schmerwitz.
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| Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle presenting the “Beetle Sound Tube” system. (Photo: agrathaer GmbH) |
The speakers of the morning session. (Photo: agrathaer GmbH) |
In the morning, Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle introduced the “Beetle Sound Tube” system and its applications. She outlined the project goals and how they culminated in a functional system that facilitates the early detection of pests, enabling better use of beneficial organisms. Sebastian Schuster from Hof Kantow, previously involved in the project for BayWa until 2019, expressed his enthusiasm for the significant progress made over the past three years. Colleagues from Biologische Beratung GmbH provided insights on beneficial insects and even brought live specimens. Without their colored markings, some participants would have found it difficult to distinguish the tiny helpers. Following this theoretical input, Roland Wolters shared his experience with the “Beetle Sound Tube” system, detailing the storage practices at Gut Schmerwitz and future plans for the system. A discussion session allowed participating farms to share their storage experiences and practices with beneficial organisms and pests. Many reported positive experiences with using beneficial organisms, sometimes even preventively. This feedback delighted Sabine Prozell of Biologische Beratung GmbH, who noted the considerable effort required in producing beneficial organisms and appreciated the positive responses.
The final presentation of the morning was by Nadine Feuerbach, who introduced VS net, a network focusing on storage protection and its guidelines for maintaining healthy storage conditions.
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| Participants attentively listening to the presentations. (Photo: agrathaer GmbH) |
A dispensing container for beneficial organisms – with the organisms inside. (Photo: agrathaer GmbH) |
During the lunch break, the Hofcafe offered an excellent buffet, providing an opportunity for participants to refresh and exchange ideas. Following lunch, Roland Wolters led a tour of the farm’s silos, allowing interested participants to view the tubes firsthand. The tour concluded with coffee and cake at the Hofcafe, where remaining attendees listened to presentations on the project’s five-year journey. Ulrich Simon from Müller BBM, who led the development of the acoustics and software, shared his results, receiving warm applause from the audience.
The delicious buffet at the Hofcafe in Gut Schmerwitz.
(Photo: agrathaer GmbH)
The official event concluded at 3:45 PM, following numerous presentations and a lively Q&A session. Many attendees stayed longer to enjoy the project’s wrap-up with sparkling wine and leftover cake. A key topic of discussion was the future of the system post-funding. The operational group hopes to find an external partner or company to finalize the system and bring it to market as part of their product portfolio. Attendees offered tips and suggestions to the group.
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| Heading to the farm tour through the misty grounds –
with Schmerwitz Castle in the background. |
Participants taking a close look at the “Beetle Sound Tube” system. (Photo: agrathaer GmbH) |
It was a fantastic event in a pleasant atmosphere. The organizers would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all participants and contributors both on stage and behind the scenes.
24.11.2022
The “Beetle Sound Tube” System Introduced at VSNet
Storage protection is a key focus at the Julius Kühn-Institut, not only in the “Beetle Sound Tube” project. The institute has a unique department in Germany, dedicated to storage protection with four permanent scientists, several project staff members, and extensive breeding facilities for storage pests. The VSnet project, a network for storage protection, is also based here. VSnet aims to reduce post-harvest losses and disseminate knowledge and guidelines for integrated pest management (IPM) in storage facilities.
The VSnet project’s final event took place on November 23 and 24 in Berlin. Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle presented the current status of the “Beetle Sound Tube” system and discussed its advantages and applications with over 30 participants from industry, consulting, administration, and academia. The feedback from storage managers was particularly valuable for transitioning the system into practical use. The topic will remain relevant in future annual storage protection meetings.
Click here to access the presentations and project contributions from the event: Network Storage Protection Website.
Invitation to Training and Final Event on November 29, 2022, at Gut Schmerwitz
After five years of project work, the results will be presented and discussed on November 29, 2022, during a training session for farmers and storage managers, followed by a major closing event. All interested parties are warmly invited to attend. Please register by November 25, 2022, at https://forms.office.com/r/HyiQADb05h
Further information about the event can be found in the flyer.
17.11.2022
At EuroTier!
EuroTier is the world’s leading trade fair for professional animal husbandry and herd management. In addition to our OG partner WEDA, our project manager Isabell Szallies also visited the fair today to promote our “Beetle Sound Tube” system.
After years of canceled Agritechnica and EuroTier events due to COVID-19, we were delighted to participate in person this year and look forward to exciting discussions and great new products in the field of animal husbandry.
28.09.2022
Last OG Meeting
The tenth and final meeting of the Operational Group took place in a serene setting at Gut Schmerwitz. The final tasks of the project, the licensing agreement, and the final event were discussed.
15.09.2022
Visit from Around the World
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On September 15, 2022, a delegation of 18 international agricultural attachés and two representatives from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) visited the Julius Kühn-Institut. Various departments of the institute were toured in small groups, providing ample opportunity to view details and engage in discussions, including about the “Beetle Sound Tube.”
With crunching beetle larvae and a 1.6-meter-long original “Beetle Sound Tube,” early acoustic detection was vividly demonstrated. These modern storage protection methods were of great interest to the representatives from Europe, Brazil, Guinea, Japan, and Paraguay. |
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| Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle in conversation with a group of agricultural attachés and the president of the JKI, Prof. Dr. Frank Ordon (2nd from left)
Photo: Benjamin Fürstenau, JKI |
07.09.2022
The German EIP Community Meets Live
The German Rural Networks Unit organized the “6th OG Workshop – EIP-Agri and AKIS: What’s Next” on September 7 and 8 in Hannover. More than 80 participants from the EIP context attended, including members of operational groups, innovation service providers, funding agencies, and ministries from Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Poland. Together, they discussed the period after the funding and how the second funding phase, starting in 2023, could be structured.
The Beetle Sound Tube project presented its initial results at the marketplace and shared interesting findings and experiences about the successful project collaboration in many discussions.
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| Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle presenting the “Beetle Sound Tube” poster to workshop participants.(Photo: I. Szallies, agrathaer) | The marketplace for the poster presentation was well attended.
(Photo: I. Szallies, agrathaer) |
31.08.2022
Exciting Research in the Spotlight
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The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the most important organizations promoting international exchange of students and researchers.
To promote Germany as a research location, the DAAD sent a photographer to document exciting scientific work for its publications. Work on the “Beetle Sound Tube” project at two of our trial farms was also documented and may hopefully be showcased internationally from next year.
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| Photographer Jan Zappner capturing Nils Hildebrandt (JKI) during sample collection for the Beetle Sound Tube project.
(Photo: Christina Müller-Blenkle, JKI) |
28.07.2022
Beetle Listener Meets Bio World Leading Fair
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As the world’s leading trade fair for organic food, Biofach is one of the most important international events for stakeholders in the organic sector.
During the lecture “Early detection of insect infestation in grains and the use of acoustics” in the lecture series of the Julius Kühn-Institut titled “Plant protection in permanent crops and storage protection in organic farming“ interested parties learned about the “Beetle Sound Tube” project on July 28, 2022. Approximately 25 people attended Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle’s lecture on-site, while additional viewers joined via the online stream. Besides the lecture, visitors could view the “Beetle Sound Tube” at the Julius Kühn-Institut booth and the Berlin-Brandenburg companies’ section. |
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| Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle presenting the Beetle Sound Tube system. (Photo: I. Szallies, agrathaer) |
Preparation for Biofach Contributions in 2022
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In 2022, the “Beetle Sound Tube” project will be presented at Biofach.
The OG partners “Association for the Promotion of Organic Farming” and “Julius Kühn Institute” have prepared additional information for interested visitors. At the FÖL booth, a video contribution about the project will be shown, and the JKI will display the tube system as well as the grain beetles and related information.
Biofach will take place from July 26 to 29, 2022, in Nuremberg: https://www.biofach.de/de/info |
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| Impressions of the Biofach fair. (Photo: I. Szallies, agrathaer) |
19.07.2022
Listening Deployment Again at Flat Storage in Bergholz
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The sun is shining, the grain fields are golden, and the harvest is in full swing. BKF was the first company this year to request the reinstallation of the Beetle Sound Tube system in its barley flat storage. Together, the nine tubes and associated technology were installed, and after six hours of joint effort, everything was set up.
So far, no beetles have been detected. Compared to previous years, this year focuses on teaching the operators how to use the system independently for acoustic early detection. |
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| The tubes are being screwed in (front) while the technology is already installed in the background. (Photo: I. Szallies, agrathaer) |
06.07.2022
Visit from the USA in Wiesenburg/Mark
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International exchange is of great importance in science.
Especially when it comes to new methods, it is essential to see what is being developed or already used in other countries to improve storage protection. During a European trip with several conferences, Edmond Bonjour, an expert on stored product pests from Oklahoma State University, visited Gut Schmerwitz to learn about the “Beetle Sound Tube” system. He was very impressed by the technology and the results achieved so far and is eager to see how the system will continue to develop. |
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| Edmond Bonjour and Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle at the silo in Gut Schmerwitz. (Photo: N. Hildebrandt, JKI) |
04.04.2022
Crunching Sounds at the Long Night of Sciences
During the Long Night of Sciences on July 2, 2022, the current status of the “Beetle Sound Tube” project was presented at the Julius Kühn Institute. For the first time, an original Sound Tube designed for Big Bags was displayed. The exhibited tube, measuring 1.6 m in length, was the smallest Sound Tube used in the project but still appeared impressively large to the visitors. In flat storage facilities and silos, tubes between 3 and 18 m in length are in use, which could not be accommodated in the exhibition tent.
The number of visitors was somewhat lower during the first Long Night of Sciences since the start of the pandemic, but interest in the presented topics was high, with many exciting detailed questions raised. Visitors were also enthusiastic about listening to the munching sounds of grain beetle larvae.
27.04.2022
9th Project Meeting in Müncheberg
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At the research site in Müncheberg, the lead partner agrathaer hosted the 9th project meeting of the Operational Group (OG).
The latest findings on acoustic development and the goals for the remaining project duration were discussed. Under splendid sunshine, amidst cherry blossoms and delicious food, all participants got creative and agreed to hold another meeting in September. The farewell of Silvia Wernitz, who represented the Potsdam-Mittelmark Farmers’ Association in the project, unfortunately could not take place. Nonetheless, the OG enjoyed the farewell cake and the beautiful sunshine. |
04.04.2022
Argentinian Delegation Listens to Beetles in Berlin
During the Fruit Logistica, an international trade fair for fruit, vegetables, logistics, and transport, a three-member delegation from the Argentinian regions of Tucumán and Buenos Aires visited the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) in Berlin on April 4, 2022.
The JKI presented the diverse fields of work to the guests. In the area of stored product protection, topics could be seen, heard, and touched. In addition to the department’s extensive insect breeding program, subjects such as attractants, beneficial insect deployment, and pest-proof storage were showcased. Of course, the “Beetle Sound Tube” system was also featured, with crunching beetle larvae and a real “Beetle Sound Tube” used in Big Bags drawing significant interest.
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Christina Müller-Blenkle presenting the functionality of the “Beetle Sound Tube” to the Argentinian guests. |
29. and 30.03.2022
The “Beetle Sound Tube” at the 21st Working Conference of the DPG Stored Product Protection Working Group
On March 29 and 30, 2022, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Stored Product Protection Working Group of the German Phytomedicine Society finally met again. The Technical University of Dresden hosted the event at the Institute of Forestry and Forest Protection in Tharandt. During a hybrid meeting, about 40 participants on-site and another 15 people online exchanged the latest findings in stored product protection. The range of topics was diverse, covering biological control of forest pests using parasitic wasps, monitoring methods for stored product pests, and the storage of goods under vacuum.
The latest results of the “Beetle Sound Tube” project were also presented and discussed with great interest. The focus was on comparing beetle detections across storage periods and sites, as well as on recent developments in acoustic data analysis.
Participants of the Stored Product Protection Working Group at the architecturally impressive Institute of Forestry and Forest Protection in Tharandt.
(Photo: B. Greuner, DpS)
25.03.2022
The digital illustration of the Beetle Sound System is now available in three languages.
>>https://flurundfurche.de/beetle-sound-tube/
>>https://lesillon.fr/beetle-sound-tube/
>>https://thefurrow.co.uk/beetle-sound-tube/
“Flur und Furche” is the customer magazine of John Deere.
9./10.12.2021
Networking at the EU level on “farm data”
Beetle Sound Tube was invited to the EIP-agri network event “Farm data for better farm performance” to present project results to nearly 100 participants from 27 EU countries and to participate in an exchange on data and digital tools in agriculture. Once again, it became clear that both acoustic detection and storage management are niche topics. Overall, it was noted that the EIP-agri network is large and diverse, and all participants were keen to improve the framework conditions for farms in the context of data security, availability, and management. More information about the event can be found here:
https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/project-market-eip-agri-workshop-farm-data-better
27.10.2021
Let’s meet – the OG discusses project results
The eighth OG meeting was hosted by Müller BBM at their Berlin location. In a productive atmosphere, the attending members discussed how the “Beetle Sound Tube” system is defined, its components and dimensions, and the goals for the final twelve months of the project. Plans for the post-funding period were also discussed, as well as the current progress in software development and acoustic analysis.
September 2021
From 18 m to 2 m: Conversion in Hohenseefeld
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Our practice partner, BayWa in Hohenseefeld, with its 18 m high silo, was both a spectacle and a challenge for our system.
It was a spectacle because the height of the silo was impressive. It was a challenge because the height of the tube system and the forces exerted by the grain on the tubes posed potential risks. After extensive discussions within the OG, the system was dismantled from the silo and set up in a flat storage facility. We are eager to see the new results! |
August 2021
We’re listening again! – Start of the final listening season
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We began the final round of trials in early August at three of four sites. After a successful harvest, the tubes were screwed back into wheat, champagne rye, and barley. The microphones also resumed their positions inside the tubes. Work at the fourth site began in September. We look forward to an audio-rich season with many insightful results! |
21.06.2021
Beetle Sound Tube in Arabic
Deutsche Welle published a video feature on our EIP project Beetle Sound Tube. Starting at minute 19:48, you can gain a good insight into the functionality of the early warning system for grain weevils.
The feature has been translated into three additional languages
03.05.2021
A Long Storage Period
In May, we listen not only to the cuckoo but also to the beetles
During the 2020/21 storage period, the “Beetle Sound Tube” system was deployed in three of our four test sites.
This year, fortunately, we can observe beetles for a longer period compared to the previous year, when the harvest was completely removed between January and April. Even in May, we are still monitoring insects in flat storage and two silos. Shortly after storage began, we detected a beetle infestation in two sites and managed it using various beneficial insects.
Sampling in Hohenseefeld at high altitude and cool temperatures. Photo: C. Müller-Blenkle, JKI
Now that spring has arrived and temperatures in the storage facilities are rising, we expect insect activity to increase. The extended storage period gives us the opportunity to observe how the insect population develops in spring. Our researchers are eager to gather the additional data and are delighted with every extra day of trials.
Preparation of probe traps for comparative samples in the silo at Gut Schmerwitz. Photo: C. Hildebrandt, JKI
“Beetle Sound Tube” at the Stored Product Protection Network
On April 22, 2021, an expert workshop organized by the Stored Product Protection Network (VSnet) on “Biological Control and the Use of Beneficial Insects in Grain Storage” took place. The online event was well attended, with nearly 60 participants, and the expert presentations sparked exciting discussions.
Christina Müller-Blenkle from the Julius Kühn-Institute reported on the experiences with the use of beneficial insects in the “Beetle Sound Tube” project during the workshop. In the first three years of the project, beneficial insects were successfully used to combat infestations in half of the trials.
More information about the event can be found at >> https://www.netzwerk-vorratsschutz.de/vsnet/de/home
Photo: C. Müller-Blenkle, JKI
16.03.2021
Presentation at the 5th Brandenburg EIP Experience Exchange
As part of the Digital Marketplace of the 5th Brandenburg Experience Exchange, Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle presented the current results of the “Beetle Sound Tube” project. The audience, who were also participants in EIP projects, were able to gain a good insight into the project’s progress.
Thus, this presentation followed the successful contributions of the project in past exchanges organized by the innovation service provider.
July 2020: The Harvest Has Been Brought In – We Can Start!
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On July 29, the new test setup began in Bergholz at BKF Belziger Kraftfutter GmbH. Nine tubes were manually installed in barley and equipped with the necessary technology. An initial test of the Wi-Fi connection showed that we can now remotely monitor whether an infestation is present.
However, Bergholz was just the beginning. Work will continue at the remaining farms in the coming weeks. We are curious about the results of the hardware and software optimizations this year.
5th OG Meeting in Virtual Space Naturally, the fifth OG meeting was meant to be an opportunity to reunite in a pleasant atmosphere after a long time and discuss the current project status to set common goals for the further course. However, things turned out differently than planned. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our plans. Fortunately, the meeting still took place, albeit in a virtual environment.
The focus was on the current state of the technology and whether it will be capable of recognizing beetle species based on specific feeding sounds. Detection algorithms are now to be used for this purpose. The goal is to visualize the correlation of the sounds by the end of the year.
For the past trial period, it was found that a quick response to detected infestation was possible both at Gut Schmerwitz and in Hohenseefeld. There was no significant infestation at Steinreich and Bad Belzig. Challenges such as data losses caused by the operating system, tube insulation, and defective collection containers have already been partially resolved. The remaining issues will be optimized in the new trial period.
The new storage period and the setup of the tube system are scheduled to start in June, depending on this year’s harvest conditions. A corresponding presentation event is planned in Bad Belzig at Belziger Kraftfutter GmbH. However, it is uncertain whether the public commissioning of the Beetle Sound Tube can take place given the current situation.
Beetle Sound Tube on Bavarian Broadcasting
The visit by Bavarian Broadcasting to Gut Schmerwitz and Belziger Kraftfutter was worthwhile. Christina Müller-Blenkle from JKI explained the Beetle Sound Tube system very clearly. As a result, two interesting features were produced for >>TV and >>Radio (Redirect to br.de)
Installation of Systems in the Other Two Farms
In September, it’s finally happening: the remaining farms, Belziger Kraftfutter and Biohof Steinreich, will be equipped with the “Beetle Sound Tubes.” Thus, the system will also be tested in flat storage and big bags. We are very curious about the first gnawing sounds.
RBB Visits
At the end of August, a film crew from RBB visited our OG partner Gut Schmerwitz to report on the “Beetle Sound Tube” and the use of beneficial insects. The feature is available online until September 3, 2019.
screen shot, RBB
August 17/18, 2019
Open House Day of the Federal Government
On August 17/18, 2019, at the Open House Day of the Federal Government at the BMEL, our OG partner Julius Kühn-Institute presented the “Beetle Sound Tube” project at its stands. In addition to over 3,000 visitors, Federal Minister of Agriculture Julia Klöckner was also welcomed, who listened with great interest to the feeding sounds of beetles as explained by Christina Müller-Blenkle.
Photo: S. Hahn, JKI
July 26, 2019
Bavarian Broadcasting at Beetle Sound Tube
In July 2019, a film crew from Bavarian Broadcasting visited Gut Schmerwitz and Belziger Kraftfutter. Together, the harvest was brought in, and the system was installed experimentally at BKF. Despite the heat, everyone gave their best – you can form your own opinion on the successful feature on September 14 at 7 pm on BR.
June 14, 2019, Hohenseefeld
Beetle Acoustics Installed at Great Heights
Installation of the beetle acoustic system in a 17m high silo of BayWa AG in Hohenseefeld
On June 14, 2019, the “Beetle Sound Tube” system was installed in a 300t grain silo at the BayWa AG storage facility in Hohenseefeld. With the help of a crane, the tubes of the 17m high silo were set up in two days. “Compared to last year, when the silo held only 75t, the 300t this year is a great challenge, which our lead designer from Agrar Technik Barnim and his team managed well,” reported project manager Isabell Szallies from agrathaer GmbH. Together with other project partners such as colleagues from the Julius Kühn-Institute, the built system was officially received today. Sebastian Schuster, head of the agricultural sales area Brandenburg at BayWa AG and responsible for the storage facility in Hohenseefeld, is visibly satisfied. “If the system works well, it offers great potential for cost savings and preservation of stored goods. Especially for grain from organic farming, the system is relevant.”
“Insects pose major problems for farmers and storage operators when they are found and spread in grain storage,” explains the responsible scientist from the Julius Kühn-Institute, Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle. Due to feeding activity and associated metabolic processes, there is a rise in temperature and humidity in the storage facilities. This is the main problem, as it paves the way for mites and mold. Once mold toxins are present in the grain, it is no longer usable for humans and animals and must be destroyed. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat an insect infestation early to minimize losses. In addition to automated pest detection through software, the use of beneficial insects via the tube system will also be tested.
Click here for the press release
Pictures:
View inside the silo with the system (C) Isabell Szallies, agrathaer GmbH
A total of 24 individual 2m tubes were installed (C) Christina Müller-Blenkle, JKI
3rd OG Meeting
On February 22, 2019, the operational group “Beetle Sound Tube” met for the third time to jointly further develop the acoustic early detection system for grain pests in silos. The focus was on planning the installations for 2019, which will be implemented in three additional farms. Thus, the system will also be tested in big bags, flat storage, and high silos. Good suggestions were made for all three applications, which are to be implemented in the farms by June this year.
In addition to adapting to new conditions, initial findings from 2018 were incorporated into the adjustments. These include the suitability of the tubes for beneficial insects and the selection of technology.
BIOFACH Congress 2019 in Nuremberg
On Thursday, February 14, 2019, Beetle Sound Tube presented itself in a panel discussion at the BIOFACH Congress to a professional audience and users.
When sensors alert, it is often too late. In large silos, it is difficult to determine an infestation using conventional methods. This is why the EIP project “Beetle Sound Tube” is also important for the economy.
Participants: Michael Wimmer – FÖL, Dr. Christina Müller-Blenkle – Julius Kühn-Institute, Ulrich Simon – Müller BBM Acoustic Solutions GmbH, Anita Beblek – agrathaer GmbH (moderation), Sebastian Schuster – BayWa AG
January 2019: Beetle Sound Tube – New Round of Project Implementation!
Shortly after the winter break, the OG partners started again: In early January, the three OG farms that will install the “Beetle Sound Tube” system in 2019 were visited. During on-site visits, silo owners discussed the possibilities of implementation with the designers. Initial experiences from 2018 could be incorporated into the planning. A final decision will be made together at the upcoming OG meeting in March.
2nd OG Meeting at Gut Schmerwitz
At the end of October 2018, the OG partners met at Gut Schmerwitz to get a firsthand look at the “Beetle Sound Tubes.” Together, the first results, project collaboration in the first half-year, and tasks until the next meeting were discussed. A delicious lunch at the newly renovated courtyard café allowed for an intensive exchange between the partners and rounded off the meeting.
JKI Presents the Project
As part of the 12th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection (IWCSPP) from October 7 to 11, 2018, “Beetle Sound Tube” was presented by the partners from the Julius Kühn-Institute.
Beetle Sound Tube on “Today in Germany”
In September, a film crew from ZDF accompanied our OG partners and asked how grain can be protected from loss, for example, due to insects. The result of the visit can be viewed ►here (from minute 09:18; feature length approx. 2:27 min)
Beetle Sound Tube Goes National Geographic
The colleagues from the Julius Kühn-Institute were interviewed by National Geographic ►Online Report
The Test Phase Begins
The silo is filled, and the first feeding sounds can already be heard.
Insect Listening Technology Installed in Grain Silo
| At the Fläminger agricultural company Gut Schmerwitz, the “Beetle Sound Tube” system was installed for the first time on June 26, 2018. Press and radio were present.
(Fotos) Long Night of Science & Brandenburg Rural TourOn June 9 and 10, 2018, numerous visitors were informed about the Beetle Sound Tube project during the Long Night of Science at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Berlin-Dahlem and at the farm festival at Gut Schmerwitz as part of the Brandenburg Rural Tour. At a one-meter-long prototype of the Beetle Sound Tube, it was demonstrated how the tubes can be used in the silo for the acoustic early detection of beetles. Knabbering grain weevils were listened to, and beneficial insects were viewed live and in a video. The project attracted special interest from the public because the first Beetle Sound Tube system was about to be set up in one of the silos at Gut Schmerwitz at the end of June. Film on EIP-AGRI
The DVS Rural Areas Network demonstrates, using our Beetle Sound Tube project as an example, how EIP-AGRI works and how to apply for and implement an agricultural innovation project. ►Watch the film (on www.netzwerk-laendlicher-raum.de) Kick-off Event
On January 10, 2018, the kick-off meeting of the operational group for the Beetle Sound Tube project took place. 15 project partners, a successful mix of practice, associations, and science, discussed and planned the next work steps. The host for the kick-off meeting was the ►Julius Kühn-Institute in Berlin-Dahlem. Over the five-year project period, an acoustic early detection system for grain silos will be developed, implemented, and tested. The tubes will be installed in the silos to collect acoustic data and measure temperature and humidity. At the end of the project period, the Beetle Sound Tube system is expected to provide species-specific identification of pests and situation-based recommendations for treatment to the user (farmer/storage operator). It will also be tested whether the tubes are suitable for introducing beneficial insects. The lead partner is agrathaer GmbH. The project is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the state of Brandenburg as part of the European Innovation Partnerships (EIP-AGRI). EIP-AGRI promotes the formation of operational groups that serve as “innovation incubators” and are part of the Europe-wide network on innovations in agriculture and forestry. |
