Project Grant 2344485

This $649,999 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program supports Farmsense, Inc., a self-certified small disadvantaged business, in developing novel sensor technologies for precise insect pest monitoring and surveillance in agricultural settings. The project aims to create a system inspired by how bats detect and discriminate between different insects, allowing for tracking of insect pests down to the level of sex, species, and life stage. This critical information will enable more targeted and effective pest control interventions, reducing the need for harsh pesticides and associated environmental damage. The project involves an interdisciplinary effort spanning wireless sensing, machine learning, robotics, and agricultural science, with the goal of lowering labor and material costs for growers and improving the competitiveness of US agriculture. Initial metrics will assess the technological performance of the sensors and classification algorithms, followed by measuring reductions in crop loss and economic benefits to growers. The project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2024.