EcoBug Pellets for Cabbage Fly Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cabbage fly infestations significantly reduce crop yields in brassica family plants, as existing methods like cyanobacteria-based repellents are not effectively integrated into fertilizers, leading to inefficiencies in pest control and crop protection.

Innovation Solution

The development of EcoBug pellets, which combine organic and mineral nutrients with cyanobacteria powder, specifically Pseudoanabaena and Nostoc species, to create a smell-free solid insect repellent fertilizer, produced through anaerobic digestion and photobioreactor processes, ensuring optimal production of repellent substances like (-)-geosmin and (-)-2-methylisoborneol, and utilizing extrusion technologies for controlled release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cyanobacteria are used as a reproducing living biofilm on BIOSKIVA, then repellent effect is achieved, but the system is complex and requires multiple separate processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepellent effectVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the repellent cyanobacteria with fertilizing nutrients into a single integrated fertilizer composition, eliminating the need for separate application of repellent and fertilizer. The cyanobacteria are incorporated into the fertilizer matrix along with organic and/or mineral nutrients, creating a unified product that provides both protection and nutrition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fertilizer composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a nutrient source for plant growth, a repellent against cabbage root fly, and a soil conditionimprover. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate BIOSKIVA carrier system with a single universal fertilizer product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If cyanobacteria are used as repellent, then insect protection is provided, but application frequency must be repeated every second week increasing labor and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect protectionVSAvoidapplication frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cyanobacteria are pre-incorporated into the fertilizer formulation at the beginning, allowing them to be released gradually over time as the fertilizer dissolves or decomposes in the soil. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need for repeated manual applications every second week.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fertilizer provides continuous release of cyanobacteria and nutrients over an extended period, maintaining constant repellent activity and plant nutrition. This continuous action replaces the discontinuous repeated applications required by traditional cyanobacteria-based repellents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If separate application of repellent and fertilizer is used, then each function can be optimized, but the process becomes more complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional effectivenessVSAvoidproduction simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the repellent cyanobacteria with fertilizing nutrients into a single integrated fertilizer composition, eliminating the need for separate application of repellent and fertilizer. The cyanobacteria are incorporated into the fertilizer matrix along with organic and/or mineral nutrients, creating a unified product that provides both protection and nutrition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If traditional cyanobacteria repellent is used, then repellent effect is achieved, but it does not provide fertilizing nutrients reducing overall crop productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepellent effectVSAvoidcrop yield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

EcoBug pellets effectively deter cabbage flies, enhancing crop growth and reducing losses by providing a timed release of repellents when flies are most active, thus increasing farmer yields and minimizing pest damage.

Implementation Method 1

They produce chemical substances as (-) - geosmin and (-)-2-methylisoborneol in effectual amounts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical substance production:

Implementation Method 2

industrial mass production of selected cyanobacteria strains in a photobioreactor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotosynthesis: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 3

animal farmers add value to a waste product by producing energy (biogas) and nutrients (organic, mineral and liquid) via anaerobic digestion/fermentation of manure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAnaerobic digestion: Anaerobic Digestion

Data Source

PatentEP2596701B1Control of oviposition from insects

Publication Date: 2015.05.20 BIOSKIVA

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A method for controlling an oviposition of an insect, especially cabbage fly, comprising the application of a repellent produced by microorganisms.