In the strawberry cultivation industry, machines that automatically distribute beneficial insects into the crops have been operational for two years. The Entomatic, a machine developed through a collaboration between Biobest and Hortiworld, has now also been adapted for vertically grown crops. The Entomatic RD, which stands for row dispenser, was showcased for the first time at the recent HortiContact event.
Fully automated introduction of predatory mites into the crop is possible with the Entomatic. The system replaces a labor-intensive process and ensures a good distribution of the predatory mites in the crop. “With very low mortality,” says Gert-Jan Dillo of Biobest, which developed the device. Growers of strawberries and gerberas, among others, are enthusiastic about the Entomatic.
