A new farming app has been launched in Europe and America after being pioneered in developing countries.
CABI’s PestSmart software is the first plant health e-learning product providing courses on the skills and methodologies required for field-based diagnosis of pests and diseases.
CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International) is a not for profit company, with profits from the product reinvested in their Plantwsie programme, which sets up plant clinics in Africa, Asia and Latin America to help farmers deliver more of their crop.
PestSmart’s software is designed to be completed on a desktop PC but is viewable on Android and Apple mobile devices. There are three elements to the PestSmart package: an e-learning course, a field guide and a simulator app with 3D renders of diseased crops.
Carol McNamara, CABI’s Chief Commercial Officer said: “We’re delighted to launch PestSmart. So often we hear about commercial innovation trickling down into developing countries. Here, we’ve taken a highly successful international development programme and adapted it for the commercial sector. This ‘reverse innovation’ approach shows how agricultural knowledge in developing countries can be applied and distributed to developed markets.”
