Kazakhstan tests smart pheromone traps to revolutionize pest control in farming

Kazakhstan is rolling out a new plant protection system that uses smart pheromone traps with digital forecasting. The project is a first step towards a wider digital phytosanitary monitoring network in the country’s agribusiness sector. It aims to modernise pest control and improve crop safety. The initiative is a joint effort between the Zh. Zhiembayev Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine and Chinese specialists. Together, they developed a system that detects pests in real time and builds a database for forecasting plant health risks.

The smart traps are currently being tested in an apple orchard at the Dikhan family farm in Almaty Region. These traps use synthetic sex pheromones to attract and capture male pests, stopping reproduction without chemical sprays. Data from the traps is sent automatically to experts, who track pest numbers and predict future outbreaks.

The pilot could expand beyond fruit trees to cover field crops, offering a universal solution for phytosanitary control. The system’s digital monitoring boosts forecast accuracy, cuts the risk of crop losses, and helps optimise plant protection measures. The new technology could transform pest management across Kazakhstan. It reduces reliance on chemicals while increasing the efficiency of crop protection. If successful, the system may set a standard for digital phytosanitary monitoring in the region.