Controlled UV for Residue-free pest control

The goal of the proposed project is the application-oriented validation of a novel, modular technology platform for chemical-free pest control in the field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), with a focus on the production of medicinal plants. In this highly regulated key market, there is a particular need for residue-free, reproducible, and validated plant protection solutions, as quality, active ingredient content, and patient safety depend directly on the production environment.
The platform investigated in the project combines two complementary technical approaches: an enclosed UV-A/UV-C combination trap for controlling flying pests, and a pure UV-C mono-trap for the targeted control of non-flying arthropods such as spider mites and scale insects. Both systems are designed to exploit the biological vulnerabilities of sensitive developmental stages without the use of chemical agents. The goal of the project is to validate this technology under conditions typical of CEA and to develop it to near-market application readiness for medicinal plant production.