A study, led by the first winner of the inaugural Carol Ellison Science Award 2021, has determined the optimum height for a drone to fly and target desert locusts with biopesticides in order for it be most effective as a tool to fight the devastating crop pest.
Violet Ochieng, of the University of Nairobi and who was supervised for her PhD by Dr Ivan Rwomushana – CABI’s Senior Scientist, Invasive Species Management based at CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, found that a height of 10 metres is best for the drone to spray biopesticide on the desert locust below.
Ms Ochieng conducted her research which was published in the journal Drones and part funded by the award.
