PurPest is a groundbreaking project aiming to address the challenge of plant pest control in the face of climate change and intensifying food production. By harnessing specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by pests or affected plants, PurPest develops a sensor system prototype for timely pest detection. This innovation will revolutionize the industry by providing reliable and fast detection devices, reducing the spread of quarantine pests across European borders.

With a focus on reducing pesticide use, PurPest conducts extensive experiments to identify pest-specific VOC patterns and develop state-of-the-art sensors for accurate detection. Through testing under import and field conditions, PurPest aims to minimize pest establishment and spread, contributing to improved plant, forest, and farm productivity. Supported by HORIZON, PurPest is at the forefront of tackling plant pest outbreaks, with a vision to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services while ensuring systematic testing of plant materials during import