27 acoustic sensors to monitor pollinators in beet crops

A network of 27 acoustic sensors is being installed at a large farming estate in North Norfolk, as part of a joint project between British Sugar and York-based agri-tech company AgriSound.

The sensors, which will remain in place for two years, can detect and analyse bee and other insect activity in real time.

The information gathered will provide an insight into pollinator activity where sugar beet is part of the crop rotation.

See also: M&S teams up with AgriSound for crop pollination project

It will also demonstrate whether wildflower borders, hedgerows and nearby water sources have any impact on pollinators over a longer period of time.

Charlie Curtis, agricultural sustainability manager at British Sugar, said:

“By better understanding pollinator activity, we can make more informed decisions about land use, pesticide management, and where to create nature-friendly habitats.”

Estate owner Ali Cargill, who is also a member of the Rural Economy Research Group, said the data would help them understand what species of bees lived on the farm, and how they interacted with the crops and the wildflower margins, “enabling us to see a baseline which we can then improve and build upon year on year”.

The pilot project will run until 2027.