Spin-off company, founded together with the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice in 2023.

The Czech Republic must innovate to protect its forests from bark beetle. It's not "just" about spruce trees anymore. Other stands are also at risk.

NeraAgro Holding, s.r.o. will start offering a technological solution for early detection of bark beetles, developed by scientists of the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia, within the framework of a joint project on the Czech market. It will also participate in its further development, which involves the involvement of AI technologies in data evaluation.

The joint spin-off project responds to a specific market demand that came directly from Czech foresters. NeraAgro Holding, s.r.o. belongs to the GREATIVITY GROUP, SE

The bark beetle has moved on. The trained eye of a forester can't see it anymore.

Bark beetles are one of the most important threats to forests. It is essential to quickly and accurately identify infested trees, which can be a problem for canopy-dwelling species. The behaviour of the bark beetle has changed in response to climatic events: its burrows have to be searched for at a height of 3-8 metres from the ground, where the most experienced forester can no longer see with the naked eye. Bark beetle burrows are often blown out and signs of other pests are difficult to detect from the ground.

Other available methods include the use of drones or binoculars, which are ineffective in dense vegetation. So without the help of climbers or cutting off damaged branches, detection from the ground is virtually impossible.

The wireless probe will help to detect the calamity in time and prevent the unnecessary destruction of healthy trees.

Because traditional search methods fail, healthy parts of the stand are too often destroyed unnecessarily. However, leaving an infested tree in the stand almost always leads to a larger outbreak, so it is too risky.

The probe on the pole can reach where it is needed even in dense vegetation.

The patented camera probe technology on a telescopic pole allows easy control of infestations in the higher parts of the tree, even in dense undergrowth and inaccessible terrain.

The simple, easy-to-use camera fits into a technical, durable A4 case. The lightweight telescopic pole can be conveniently transported in the car and carried in the field. Use is a matter of minutes and evaluation of the camera footage takes place immediately on site. A mobile phone is used as a display device. The forester can thus react immediately to any findings, carry out a further thorough inspection of the stand or take other appropriate action.

Not only on spruce trees. Arborists are interested in the probe.

According to the media, the bark beetle calamity is over. But experts warn that further waves are inevitable, and may be even stronger. The main causes include climate change and the high number of spruce trees, which provides the bark beetle with plenty of food. Other risks include the lack of adaptation of forests to changing conditions and high levels of wildlife, which hampers the recovery of deciduous forests that help with regeneration. Forest diversification and better preparedness for future calamities help to mitigate this negative trend.

Not only foresters but also arborists are interested in the probe, who see it as a strong ally in the rapid and effective identification of other pests and fungi that threaten rare stands. They could do without the necessary help of professional climbers, whose cooperation is financially and organisationally demanding.

Strong team

The project of the probe development was led by Dr. Petr Doležal from the Institute of Entomology of the Biological Centre in České Budějovice, Prof. RNDr. Milan Novák, CSc. from the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia and the company NeraAgro, spol. s r.o.