MILDRON Operational Group: Innovations for the early detection and treatment of mildew in early potato cultivation in Andalusia

Climate change is causing global warming, with shorter winters, so the risk of downy mildew in potato crops is increasing in regions like Andalusia, which have a warm climate. Rainfall at the end of winter, with maximum temperatures that can exceed 25°C, as well as typical spring rains with practically summer-like maximum temperatures, create the perfect breeding ground for the emergence and development of the disease.

The added problem is that the permitted treatments to combat the pest cannot be applied by land, as the fields are often muddy and waterlogged, making them impossible to apply using the necessary human and mechanical means. The Task Force "Innovations for the Early Detection and Treatment of Downy Mildew in Early Potato Cultivation in Andalusia" is working on a project to study the feasibility of using drones to use phytosanitary treatments for potato cultivation to combat downy mildew.

Thus, if the results are as expected, there would be significant benefits in terms of improved management of pesticide applications, crop adaptation to climate change, and a clear improvement in competitiveness and differentiation from foreign competitors. The environmental impact of specific treatments will be significantly reduced by modifying the method of application and adjusting the quantities and concentrations of pesticides in potato crops.