Varsling Innen PlanteSkadegjørere
Automatic forecasting system for agricultural pests and diseases
Description
Varsling Innen PlanteSkadegjørere (VIPS) is an open-source app providing prognosis, monitoring and decision support in agriculture. It can be accessed via a mobile app and/or web-based app, and provides observations, forecasts and decision support for the integrated management of agricultural pests, diseases and weeds. The app makes use of data from most online weather stations, public weather data networks and weather forecasts, allowing pest and disease models to be based on specific local conditions with multiple sources of input data. Pest and disease observations can be reported via one’s smartphone and reported using online maps. The website features maps on which model outputs are linked to geographical locations, and presents risk alerts in green, amber and red to indicate whether there is a need for further action. Detailed breakdowns of the risk levels associated with each pest or disease risk model can be accessed via the system. VIPS also facilitates access to a decision support tool developed by Danish IPM Consult for the management of weeds in cereal crops, including adaptations to fit Norwegian conditions, and a direct link to RimPRO which provides warnings on apple scab and codling moth outbreaks. Norwegian VIPS users can access information via the VIPS website, or can subscribe to SMS or email risk alerts. Final decisions on the actions to be applied in the fields are decided by the farmer or in collaboration with the local agricultural advisory service.
Technology
The VIPS application has been designed for international use and for collaboration via all mobile and other online devices. The open-source design of VIPS allows users to make adaptations and changes to suit local needs, and any relevant model or amendments to the system can be implemented and shared with VIPS users worldwide. The input data for use in VIPS can take the form of pest or disease observations in the field or in traps, and online weather data. Observations can be presented on maps or used as inputs in addition to weather data in pest and disease models. The information and model outputs stored in VIPS can be presented in a format that suits the needs of the end-user, whether in the form of a website, mobile application or text message, etc. The format and distribution of information to end-users will depend on the infrastructure and organization of agricultural production in the country in question. In many countries, the main distributor of model outputs and corresponding treatment recommendations is the advisory service. In 2021, VIPS added to the app suggested treatments for weeds in spring and autumn cereals, and notifications of leaf spot diseases in wheat, barley brown spot and grey eye spot in barley, large tuber rot in oil crops, dry rot in potatoes, lettuce leaf blight, onion leaf blight, celery leaf spot, large and small cabbage fly, cabbage fly, hair meadowsweet, carrot fly, apple scab, apple borer, rowanberry moth and grey mould in strawberries. VIPS provides details of damage thresholds for assessments of the need to control potato damage, aphids in grain and rapeseed beetle in oil crops, as well as pest monitoring and expert reports.
Target
VIPS is available as a mobile application on Android and iOS devices, and as an online app or website. VIPS has been designed to accommodate research studies and advisory services, and can be easily customized with local developments or for international use. This versatility has allowed VIPS to be integrated with several international projects in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Business model
VIPS operates on a free and open-source model supported by research bodies and public institutions in Norway.
Impact
In a survey carried out by NIBIO in 2021, 1 070 potato producers were approached to take part, and 369 responded. The survey results indicated that over 60 percent of the respondents had made direct use of VIPS services or had received alters, suggesting that farmers are willing to make use of alternative sources of information to steer their farming decisions during the growing seasons. Pest and disease warnings have been open and freely available to Norwegian farmers and advisors through the web site www.vips-landbruk.no since 2001, providing data from a network of more than 80 weather stations. Additional locations can be added by linking private weather stations to the system. Users can access specific risk models for 16 pests and diseases, as well as damage thresholds for several pests, and information and reports on pest and disease observations for a wide range of agricultural crops.
Partners
Norwegian Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Four Betters
Better production
