AG-NAV Inc. Joins Biological Forest Pest Control and Application Technology Project

AG-NAV Inc. Joins Biological Forest Pest Control and Application Technology Project

AG-NAV Inc. has joined a research project to develop new bio-pesticide products and more effective aerial applications. The project title is: Integrated Research, Development and Commercialization of Biological Forest Pest Control Products and Application Technologies. There are 2 goals to the research: to develop a suite of biopesticides that specifically affect targeted insect pests; and to enhance an industry-leading spray aircraft control system to maximize the effectiveness of pesticide application while reducing the associated costs and environmental risks. This project, with total estimated costs of approximately $8.2 million, will receive up to $3 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period.

Working with Forest Protection Limited (FPL), the University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, and the Canadian Forest Service; AG-NAV Inc. will develop a unique Aerial Spray Management System to maximize on-target deposit and reduce off-target drift. New spray optimization software will be linked to aircraft guidance software and integrated into AG-NAV’s spray control system.

In partnership with the Forest Protection Limited, the Canadian Forest Service, the University of New Brunswick, BioAtlantech, and Sylvar Technologies Inc., AG-NAV will help evaluate a number of virus-based biopesticides that affect only specific, economically significant forest pests.