Distribution of beneficial insects via drone systems for IPM

The project investigates drone-based release of beneficial predatory insects—such as *Trichogramma* spp.—for integrated pest management (IPM) in vegetable and outdoor crops. Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme (grant No. 862563), it enhances sustainable pest control by enabling precise, efficient, and labour-saving applications over fields, especially in inaccessible or wet conditions. The method reduces application time by up to 10 times and supports crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, maize, and vineyards. Key drone systems include 'UAV-IQ', 'Trichogramma dropper', 'Natulect Drone', and 'Parabug'. The initiative aligns with the Smart Protect IPM Thematic Network and promotes cross-regional knowledge sharing. Findings are publicly available under a Creative Commons BY licence.