Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn, soybeans

Target Pests

Practices

• Pest Management: decision support system, monitoring/scouting

Problem and Opportunity:
The problem in integrated pest management (IPM) practice and field crop research is accurately quantifying disease and/or insect injury severity. Current methods rely on visual assessment, which can lead to inconsistent results and overestimation of injury. This poses challenges for crop scouts, early-career researchers, and the summer workers they employ.

Approach:
Our approach is to develop a working group that will focus on 3D printing tools for IPM that provide a tactile experience for individuals to learn and understand disease severity or insect damage. Unlike traditional 2D diagrams, rating severity on a 3D printed leaf allows for more accurate assessments. These tools will also enable diagnostic training during the winter when real-life examples may be scarce.

Project Objectives:
1) Develop a dedicated 3D printing working group: By assembling experts from various disciplines like entomology, plant pathology, agronomy, graphic design, and engineering, we aim to combine knowledge and expertise. Through collaborative efforts in synchronous meetings and asynchronous discussions, we can devise innovative 3D printing solutions for IPM.
2) Establish a repository/library for 3D printing materials: This resource will serve as a central hub for sharing and accessing easily printable models related to crop diseases, insect damage, and assessment techniques. The library will facilitate collaboration among researchers and provide easy access to educational materials for crop scouts.
3) Organize a 3D printing workshop: This event aims to bring together stakeholders from academia, industry, and government agencies to exchange ideas about incorporating this technology into existing protocols. The workshop will demystify the challenges of operating a 3D printer by walking participants through the entire process - from setup to troubleshooting.

Anticipated Impact:
The use of 3D printing tools in IPM will have several anticipated impacts:
- Improved accuracy in disease severity data collection: Tactile models representing different severities of diseases or insect damage patterns will enhance researchers' ability to assess severity more accurately.
- Standardized assessment tools: The repository/library of 3D printable models will provide researchers with easy access to standardized assessment tools, reducing subjectivity in data collection.
- Enhanced learning experience: The realistic representation of leaves with disease symptoms and insect damage will provide practical scenarios for identification and understanding of pest-related issues, improving the learning process.
- Increased adoption of 3D printing in IPM: The workshop will raise awareness about the potential benefits of incorporating this technology into existing protocols and provide participants with the confidence they need to start working with a 3D printer.

Overall, this working group grant proposal seeks funding to address critical challenges in IPM through the utilization of 3D printing technology. By enhancing training programs, developing standardized assessment tools, and fostering collaboration among experts, we aim to improve accuracy and efficiency in disease diagnosis, damage threshold assessment, and overall decision-making processes.

Objective 1) Develop a dedicated 3D printing working group: By assembling experts from various disciplines like entomology, plant pathology, agronomy, graphic design, and engineering, we aim to combine our knowledge and expertise.

Objective 2) Establish a repository/library for 3D printing materials: This resource will serve as a central hub for sharing and accessing 3D printable models related to crop diseases, insect damage, and assessment techniques.

Objective 3) Organize a 3D printing workshop for integrated pest management: This event will attempt to bring together stakeholders from academia, industry, and government agencies to exchange ideas, showcase advancements in the field, and promote the adoption of 3D printing in IPM research and practices.