Palm Protect

Palm Protect develops devices for the early detection of palm tree pests such as the Red Palm Weevil (RPW). The RPW has spread to more than 60 countries and affects 40 palm species. It is currently deemed as a global threat and holds a Category 1 standing by the FAO.

Infestation estimates for the RPW are difficult, estimates range between 1% and 5% in the Middle Eastern region alone. With an estimated annual loss of $1.74 to $8.69 million in the Middle East alone. This does not include the costs of growing the palm tree, the lost harvest, the costs of removal and the costs of insecticides.

Advantages of early detection

When farmers notice any visible symptoms of the RPW infection, the damage done is usually beyond repair.

A tree left untreated could easily spread the infection to nearby trees and farms. The solution is in early detection.

• Allows acting at the earliest stage of infection which maximizes the potential for saving the palm tree.
• Currently there is no way to measure the effectiveness of different insecticides and techniques used in treating palm trees.
• Save costs on insecticides.
• Detect an infection before it spreads to nearby trees.

01. PalmProtect On-Demand Device

You move the device from tree to tree until you finish scanning your farm. The time needed per scan is a maximum of 150 seconds. You push the device nail into the trunk of the palm tree and scanning begins. You walk through the farm and check the results on the device itself. The battery can last up to weeks and will need one night to fully charge.

02. PalmProtect Total Protect Device

A device is placed on every tree and reports to a central station. This station collects all detection results and displays it on an interactive map on a dedicated website. The battery should remain good for 5 years before needing replacement. This solution is automated, but more costly