POnTE · Project

Early Detection Tools and Sensor Networks to Protect Crops and Forests from Killer Pests

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Imagine a disease silently killing olive trees across southern Europe, or a bacterium wiping out potato fields before anyone notices. POnTE brought together 25 research teams from 13 countries to build an early warning system — think smoke detectors, but for plant diseases. They developed drone-mounted scanners that spot infected crops from the air, ground-based sensor networks that keep permanent watch over fields, and rapid diagnostic kits that work like a pregnancy test for plant pathogens. They also mapped where these pests could spread next as the climate changes.

By the numbers

EUR 6,850,000

EU funding for pest detection R&D

Research and industry partners in consortium

Countries involved in testing and validation

Total project deliverables produced

SMEs involved in diagnostics and agritech

Demonstrated detection and monitoring systems

The business problem

What needed solving

Plant diseases like Xylella fastidiosa are destroying olive groves, vineyards, and citrus orchards across Europe, while bacterial pathogens threaten potato and carrot production. Traditional inspection methods catch outbreaks too late — by the time you see symptoms, entire fields or forests may already be lost. Farmers, forestry managers, and national plant health agencies need detection tools that find these invisible killers before they spread.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered UAV-mounted hyperspectral and thermal scouting systems for airborne crop inspection, a permanent ground-based sensor network for continuous pathogen surveillance, and EU-wide predictive maps showing where Xylella and other pests will spread under climate change. Additionally, they developed diagnostic kits, lab-on-chip devices, new biomarkers, and integrated pest management strategies — totaling 41 deliverables across the 4-year project.

Audience

Who needs this

Olive, citrus, and grapevine growers in Mediterranean regionsPotato and carrot producers facing Liberibacter solanacearumAgTech companies building drone-based crop monitoring servicesNational plant health authorities and phytosanitary inspection agenciesForestry companies managing broadleaf forests threatened by ash dieback

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Agriculture & Crop Protection

any

Target: Agricultural cooperatives and large-scale farms growing olives, citrus, grapevines, or potatoes

If you are an olive or citrus grower watching Xylella fastidiosa devastate orchards across the Mediterranean — this project developed UAV-mounted hyperspectral and thermal imaging systems that detect infected trees before symptoms are visible to the naked eye. Early detection means you can isolate affected areas and save the rest of your plantation instead of losing entire groves. The project tested these systems with 25 partners across 13 countries.

Precision Agriculture Technology

SME

Target: AgTech companies developing crop monitoring drones, sensors, or diagnostic devices

If you are a precision agriculture company looking to expand into plant health monitoring — this project built and demonstrated a preventive sensor network for permanent surveillance of bacterial pathogens, plus scouting systems mounted on both UAVs and terrestrial vehicles. These are ready-to-integrate modules that could add plant disease detection to your existing drone or field sensor product line. The consortium included 5 SMEs already active in diagnostics and agritech.

Forestry & Land Management

enterprise

Target: Forestry companies, national park services, and timber producers managing broadleaf and conifer forests

If you manage forests threatened by ash dieback or Phytophthora — this project developed remote sensing protocols and climate-based distribution models showing where these pathogens will spread under future climate scenarios. Instead of reactive logging after trees die, you get predictive maps that let you plan protective measures years in advance. The models cover current and future climate conditions across the EU.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy these detection systems on my farm or forest?

The project did not publish specific pricing for the UAV scouting systems or sensor networks. However, the technology builds on standard hyperspectral and thermal imaging mounted on commercial drones and terrestrial vehicles, suggesting costs comparable to existing precision agriculture drone services. Contact the consortium for licensing or partnership pricing.

Can these systems work at industrial scale across large plantations or forest areas?

The project demonstrated both airborne (UAV-mounted) and ground-based (terrestrial vehicle) scouting systems, plus a permanent surveillance sensor network — all designed for area-wide deployment. The climate distribution models were built at EU scale, covering current and future scenarios. With 25 partners testing across 13 countries, the systems were validated in diverse real-world conditions.

Who owns the IP and how can I license these diagnostic tools or sensor systems?

IP is distributed among the 25 consortium partners led by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Italy. The consortium included 5 SMEs and 3 industry partners involved in diagnostic kits and services. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the specific partners who developed each tool.

Are these tools compliant with EU plant health regulations?

The project was explicitly designed to support EU plant health legislation and knowledge-based decision-making policies. The diagnostic kits, surveillance protocols, and IPM strategies were developed in alignment with EU regulatory requirements for pest prevention and management.

How quickly can these systems detect an outbreak compared to traditional methods?

The UAV-mounted hyperspectral and thermal imaging systems can scan large areas and detect infection before visible symptoms appear, which traditional visual scouting cannot do. The permanent sensor network provides continuous automated monitoring rather than periodic manual inspections. Based on available project data, specific detection time comparisons were not published in the deliverable summaries reviewed.

Can the sensor network integrate with my existing farm management software?

The project developed lab-on-chip diagnostic devices and sensor networks as standalone systems. Based on available project data, specific integration protocols with third-party farm management platforms were not detailed in the deliverable summaries. The 5 SME partners in the consortium may offer integration support for commercial deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

The POnTE consortium of 25 partners across 13 countries is heavily research-oriented, with 9 research organizations and 4 universities forming the scientific backbone. The 3 industry partners and 5 SMEs (12% industry ratio) focused on diagnostic kits, agrochemicals, and seed production — these are your most likely technology licensing partners. Led by Italy's National Research Council (CNR), the consortium spans the Mediterranean (where Xylella is most devastating) and Northern Europe (where ash dieback and potato pathogens dominate). The geographic spread means the tools were tested in diverse climatic and agricultural conditions, increasing their reliability for deployment across the EU.

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHECoordinator · IT
NIBIO - NORSK INSTITUTT FOR BIOOKONOMIparticipant · NO
BUNDESFORSCHUNGS UND AUSBILDUNGSZENTRUM FUR WALD NATURGEFAHREN UND LANDSCHAFTparticipant · AT
AUREA IMAGING BVBAparticipant · BE
FORESTRY COMMISSION RESEARCH AGENCYparticipant · UK
THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF ISRAEL - THE VOLCANI CENTREparticipant · IL
LOEWE BIOCHEMICA GMBHparticipant · DE
AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICASparticipant · ES
LUONNONVARAKESKUSparticipant · FI
FUNDACION CITOLIVA, CENTRO DE INNOVACION Y TECNOLOGIA DEL OLIVAR Y DEL ACEITEparticipant · ES
AGRITEST SRLparticipant · IT
UNIVERSIDAD DE COSTA RICAparticipant · CR
INSTITUTO VALENCIANO DE INVESTIGACIONES AGRARIASparticipant · ES
WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITYparticipant · NL
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE - UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADEparticipant · RS
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENTparticipant · FR
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI BARI ALDO MOROparticipant · IT
AGENCE NATIONALE DE LA SECURITE SANITAIRE DE L ALIMENTATION DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DU TRAVAILparticipant · FR
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENTparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy — lead coordinator with plant protection expertise

Order a report on this consortium See CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the POnTE team for licensing their detection technology or sensor networks? SciTransfer can connect you with the right partner for your specific crop or region.

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