Project Grant 20237001240831

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANTS (RIFA) INFEST OVER 140 MILLION HECTARES IN THE USA AND COST AMERICANS AN ESTIMATED $8 BILLION ANNUALLY FOR CONTROL AND TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO A NUMBER OF ECONOMIC SECTORS, INCLUDING AGRICULTURE, NURSERIES, SOD PRODUCERS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST 30% OF THE POPULATION IN RIFA INFESTED AREAS IS STUNG PER YEAR. RIFA INFESTATION HAS RESULTED IN HIGHER FOOD PRODUCTION COSTS, INCREASED USE OF PESTICIDES (THAT ALSO HARM OTHER BENEFICIAL INSECTS), INCREASED MEDICAL AND VETERINARY COSTS, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT AND ECOLOGICAL IMPACT. ABOUT 40 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN AREAS INFESTED BY RIFA AND 15 MILLION PEOPLE ARE STUNG ANNUALLY. THE MASSIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IF RIFA IS DETECTED AND EXTERMINATED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. THE REMOTE AUTONOMOUS DETECTION SYSTEM (RADS) IS AN ADVANCED EARLY WARNING SYSTEM PLATFORM DESIGNED TO DETECT, IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY OF INVASIVE SPECIES OF VECTORS. IT IS A COMPACT, PORTABLE, AND RUGGED SYSTEM. THE DEPLOYMENT OF RADS WILL ALLOW INDUSTRY PLAYERS TO INTELLIGENTLY MANAGE RESOURCES, SUCH AS INSECTICIDE USE, AND THUS MINIMIZE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.THE RADS REPRESENTS THE NEXT GENERATION SURVEILLANCE TOOLS TO PROTECT THE US TERRITORY AGAINST RIFA AND OTHER INVASIVE SPECIES, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE TOOL FOR THE US AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.