CARPO
Software for real-time agrometeorological services and plant prognostics
Description
The CARPO software supports real-time agrometeorological monitoring, and serves as an early warning system for farmers and advisors in the Republic of Srpska that is accessible via the web or through a mobile app. CARPO was developed by DRAXIS (www.draxis.gr/projects/carpo-2) and is currently run by the Republic Hydrometeorological Institute of the Republic of Srpska. The system utilizes observations from a local network of agrometeorological stations to produce pest and disease forecasts for the different crops cultivated in the country. Based on these forecasts, the system sends out alerts and notifications to the users – primarily farmers and agronomists – advising them to take the necessary actions to protect their crops. The system also allows users to upload photos or report disease outbreaks, and to indicate their own parcels on the CARPO map to support the production of more specific forecasts. Users can also obtain recommendations from a team of expert advisors through the app.
Technology
CARPO brings together data from 52 automatic weather stations in a 1-hour temporal resolution. All measured data is publicly available and can be accessed free of charge. CARPO also automatically collects data from two global weather forecasts: the Global Forecasting System and the Global Environmental Multiscale Model, providing weather forecasts for the following 7 days in a spatial resolution of 0.25 degrees (25 km). The measured and forecasted data are compiled into a unique time series. CARPO uses weather data to create automatic, real-time simulations of major pest and disease outbreaks, and carries out risk assessments to predict the potential damage. CARPO features five modules related to five major crop diseases: the Apple Scab Revised Mills Curve Model, the Botrytis Bunch Rot model, the Codling Moth Degree-Day Sum Model, the Cougar Blight Model for Fire Blight and the Potato Late Blight IPI+MISP Model. The CARPO Mobile App is available from the Google Play Store for Android and from the Apple App Store for iOS. The mobile app provides users with access to recommendations, expert advice and field data records (www.play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gr.draxis.carpo).
Target
The system can benefit farmers of different scales, agronomists and the general public.
Business model
Developed with funding from the United Nations Development Programme.
Impact
The CARPO software provides farmers, advisors and scientific and educational institutions with quality, expert-sourced information on current pest and disease risks. CARPO also provides decision support about when and which control measures to apply to reduce potential crop losses, thus helping farmers reduce their pest protection product expenses, leading to higher-quality yields and healthier produce, thus reducing the negative impact on humans and the environment.
Partners
Republic Extension Service; Ministry of Agriculture; Forestry and Water Management of Republic of Srpska; Republic Hydro-Meteorological Institute of Republic of Srpska; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Draxis Environmental; United Nations Development Program
Four Betters
Better production
Better nutrition
Better environment
Better life
