Aphids are a major problem in UK and global food production, reducing yields by directly feeding on plants phloem-sap but also through transmitting a variety of diseases. In 2018-19, over 106t of pesticide was applied to an area of 1,815,090 hectares to control aphids, often applied pre-emptively to protect crops. By combining recent advances in volatile compound detection and insect olfaction bioscience, we hope to develop a sensor that can proactively monitor fields for aphid infestation, allowing for a more targeted application of pesticide, resulting in a significant decrease in application to UK farms.

With the support of UK Aerospace Technology Institute, a British consortium consisting of Honeywell, National Physical Laboratory, and Alphasense, will bring total cabin air management a big step closer to reality. The innovations from ECLAIR will enable the UK to lead the market in next generation Environmental Control Systems, and the supply of related high quality aerospace graded sensors. These technologies will allow airlines to maintain good cabin air, reduce operational costs and have a significant impact on climate change. The project will result in skills, technology and job creation in the UK aerospace industry.