In 2017, Invenio received a Sival Bronze Award for its innovation “Biopose”. This patented technology enables the drone-based release of mating-disruption rings. This biocontrol method disperses in the air the pheromone emitted by females to attract males. When the atmosphere becomes saturated, the males can no longer locate the females, thereby disrupting reproduction. The pest’s life cycle is broken, and populations naturally decline.

While this method is commonly used in apple orchards, it remains difficult to implement in tall trees. Its effectiveness depends on placing the pheromone-emitting rings in the upper third of the canopy. To address this constraint — particularly in walnut orchards (codling moth), chestnut orchards (codling moth) and forest trees (pine processionary caterpillars) — Invenio developed the Biopose solution nine years ago.

This approach has proven highly effective when the flight and release are performed within line of sight: the pilot controls the drone and triggers the release at the top of the trees.
However, the method becomes ineffective when the drone is no longer visible — as in dense chestnut groves or forests — due to heavy foliage and uneven terrain.

After several years of testing cameras and transmitters to obtain visual feedback, a major technological breakthrough has been achieved through collaboration with Agrodrone. It is this new solution that is being presented in the innovation competition.